Abstract
Background: The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, like any military aggression, creates obstacles to preventive and therapeutic measures, reducing the ability of the healthcare system to provide timely and high-quality care to patients with various pathologies and conditions.
Objective: The study was conducted to analyze global and local experiences of the impact of hostilities and war on the operational functioning of healthcare systems.
Materials and Methods: In conducting this study, a bibliosemantic method was used, involving a search for relevant scientific sources across the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, BMJ Group, and the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine. The collected information was processed using PEST analysis in compliance with the principle of a systematic approach.
Results: According to the PEST analysis, the impact of war on healthcare institutions and the public health system revealed several negative aspects. Politically, these include the destruction of medical infrastructure, the occupation of territories, and an increased burden on management. Economically, the system faces facility damage, rising costs for trauma and mental health, and reduced state resources due to defense budget reorientation. Socially, there is an increasing level of population trauma, massive internal displacement creating uneven burdens on facilities, and reduced access to preventive care. Technologically, the war caused infrastructure destruction, utility interruptions, and limited high-tech assistance in frontline regions.
Conclusions: The results of the PEST analysis indicate that while the war creates significant political, economic, social, and technological challenges for the Ukrainian healthcare system, it simultaneously stimulates transformation through flexible management, digitalization, and international integration. To build a system adapted to war conditions, it is vital to develop and implement new models that strengthen institutional resilience against crises.