Dismissal of Okhmatdyt CEO: doctors and activists support Zhovnir
19 August 2024 16:37
Recently, the Ministry of Health has suspended Volodymyr Zhovnir, CEO of the National Children’s Specialised Hospital “Okhmatdyt”, from his duties until the completion of inspections by the National Police of Ukraine, other law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Health commission. Volodymyr Zhovnir also posted a relevant post on his Facebook page, announcing his dismissal and stressing that he had nothing to hide or be ashamed of.
“In fact, the situation and the available documents confirming it are extremely transparent and unambiguous. I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. My task now is to cooperate fully and comprehensively with law enforcement and inspection authorities,” he wrote.
In the comments to Zhovnir’s post, doctors and activists expressed their full support for him, emphasising that they had no doubt about his honesty to the letter of the law, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Oleksandr Litus, head of the Department of Dermatovenerology and Allergology at the Shupyk National University of Health of Ukraine, also joined the support of Volodymyr Zhovnir.
At the same time, Vasyl Kasyanov, a physical therapist, believes that it is not Zhovnir who should be dismissed, but Health Minister Viktor Liashko.
Olha Barna, head of the Department of Family Medicine at the Bohomolets National Medical University, stressed that the entire medical community stands behind Volodymyr Zhovnir.
Also, Facebook user Maria Mishchenko said that the staff of the orthopaedics and traumatology department supports Volodymyr Zhovnir.
Patients of Okhmatdyt also joined in supporting Zhovnir
Olga Viera, director of the Ukrainian House National Centre, also supported Zhovnir.
“Hold on, our support is with you! We are all grateful for your work, for your position and believe in fair decisions,” she wrote.
Daryna Vlasenko, founder of the Zdai Blood project, also joined the support.
“Thank you for your fierce dedication, with which you work, help and create the best place for children’s treatment. Undoubtedly, Okhmatdyt has blossomed since you arrived. The amount you have done for the hospital, for the staff, for the children deserves only endless gratitude and respect. I wish you strength to get through this period,” Daryna Vlasenko wrote.
The director of the Child’s Heart Foundation also joined in supporting Volodymyr Zhovnir:
“I have a great hope that society will not allow you, Vladimir Apolinarievich, to be made the last man standing in such a situation. I remember how happy you were that like-minded people had created the Okhmatdyt Foundation, and it made all the processes much easier. I wish you victory over the circumstances, this is a challenge not only for you, but for the whole society of people of good deeds in the fight against the rotten system of offices… Keep going!”
Iryna Skosar, the editor-in-chief of the Vіkna Novyny website, also expressed her support, noting that she has witnessed all the positive metamorphoses in OKHMATDYT and the Cardiac Centre since 2003 to the present day.
Olga Kanska, PR & GR technologist, ambassador of Ukrainian medicine, also joined the support.
As a reminder, starting from 17 August, Oleksandr Urin, who heads the Intensive and Efferent Therapy Department of Acute Intoxication at the Okhmatdyt, has been temporarily assigned the duties of the CEO ofthe hospital.
Volodymyr Zhovnir has been suspended from his duties as CEO of Okhmatdyt until the National Police, other law enforcement agencies and a commission of the Ministry of Health complete their inspections.
Russian missile attack on Okhmatdyt hospital on 8 July
on 8 July 2024, during another massive missile attack during the Russian-Ukrainian war, the hospital suffered significant damage from a Russian X-101 cruise missile strike. The strike damaged the hospital’s buildings, destroyed some of the medical facility’s buildings, smashed windows and glass, and caused casualties.
The Russians destroyed the building of the Toxicology Department, where seriously ill children were on dialysis, five oncology departments, ten surgical departments, two somatic departments, an intensive care unit, two intensive care units, operating units, radiotherapy and radiotherapy departments, and three other buildings were damaged. Two electrical substations that powered the hospital’s entire infrastructure were also destroyed.
As of mid-day, two adults (one of them a doctor) and seven children were known to have been killed and injured. on 10 July, a boy died who was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at the time of the attack on Okhmatdyt on 8 July.
on 9 July 2024, the director of Okhmatdyt, Volodymyr Zhovnir, addressed the UN Security Council. In his speech, he stated that at the time of the attack, about 1,200 people were in the hospital and 3 complex operations were underway. The attack killed 2 people and injured about 300, including 8 children. He also noted that the attack damaged 24 departments, which will limit the ability to provide quality medical services to those in need.
Immediately after the attack on the hospital, Ukrainians began raising funds to rebuild Okhmatdyt and, according to Health Minister Viktor Liashko, raised more than UAH 1 billion. However, the hospital’s charitable foundation has since found itself at the centre of a scandal when choosing a contractor to repair the damaged building. The foundation chose Bud-Technology LLC as the winner of the tender, despite the fact that this offer was one of the most expensive among 14 bidders. The Ministry of Health decided to cancel the previous tender and hold a new one through the Prozorro system.
Author: Alyona Kaplina
