Ukraine's prosthetics and orthotics industry has seen rapid development since 2014. However, when the full-scale war broke out, the country faced new challenges, as many war related traumas resulted in limb loss. Since February 2022 there are about 20,000 new amputees in Ukraine, most of whom are young individuals, who will require lifetime prosthetics and orthotics services.
Establishing a formal profession and a formal education in order to accredit practicing professionals and provide opportunities for education of the new generation of professionals became critical.
A Ukrainian NGO "Protez Hub" stepped up to the task with the support from the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
First, a "Prosthetist-Orthotist" professional standard was developed. The standard was aligned with ISPO recommendations and the team working on the standard consisted of Ukraine's local experts and of the international experts.
Once the professional standard was adopted, the process of accreditation of practicing professionals based on the established criteria has started. Thanks to the support of the Embassy of Switzerland and the American Board for Certification in Prosthetics, Orthotics and Pedorthics, in partnership with CO "Patients of Ukraine" and "Prosthetika" and together with Kharkiv National Medical University (under the Ministry of Health of Ukraine), Protez Hub has developed examinations. 36 professionals have already been accredited.
For those new to profession, a Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics program was established.
A National Educational Curriculum for the program has been developed by Ukrainian and international experts.
Statement of the objective / learning objectives
The session will provide an overview of how the Prosthetist-Orthotist profession was established in Ukraine. This experience is transferrable to other countries and can help improve existing P&O education programs globally.
