Ukrainian Medical Device Market During the War: A Patient More Alive Than Dead

During wartime, any market is instinctively perceived as either “frozen” or merely surviving in a formal sense. The Ukrainian medical device market is no exception. At first glance, it appears fragmented, uneven, and at times chaotic. However, a deeper look — not at individual news items, but at the structure of public procurement — reveals a more complex picture.

Today, the Ukrainian medical device market is clearly not in a “normal” state. Yet it is not in a coma either. Rather, it resembles a clinical examination stage, where a physician cautiously concludes: the patient is more alive than dead. This intermediate, imperfect, but functional phase is the most revealing for understanding the market’s real condition.

The Pre-War Market: Presence Without a System

Between 2015 and 2021, the Ukrainian medical device market existed and gradually developed, but without a coherent infrastructural logic. Procurement of high-tech equipment — CT scanners, angiography systems, automated laboratory platforms — occurred sporadically. As a rule, these were isolated projects tied to specific regional programs or political decisions.

Even when such equipment was purchased, it rarely generated repeat or serial demand. Technical specifications varied significantly, standardization was minimal, and long-term operational logic was often overlooked. The market existed more as a collection of individual cases than as a structured system.

The War as a Point of Structural Break

The full-scale war in 2022 predictably led to a sharp decline in many economic indicators. At first glance, it seemed that procurement of complex medical equipment would disappear altogether. However, the period from 2023 to 2025 followed a different trajectory.

Instead of a complete halt, the market restructured itself. Ukraine did not begin massive investment in healthcare; on the contrary, resources became significantly more limited. Yet these constraints forced a pragmatic approach: maintaining basic system functionality while selectively investing in technologies without which the healthcare system would simply not withstand wartime pressure.

This logic is clearly reflected in public procurement data from the Prozorro system.

What Was Actually Procured Through Prozorro: Demand Structure, Not Isolated Cases

Consumables as the Foundation of the System

The core volume of public medical procurement during the war consists not of CT scanners or robotic systems, but of consumables: medical kits, single-use products, laboratory consumables, procedure systems, containers, and basic components.

This segment:

• dominates in the number of procurement procedures;
• remains the most stable over time;
• ensures the daily operation of hospitals regardless of region.

In monetary terms, individual consumable procurements often exceed the cost of a single complex equipment project. At the same time, during 2023–2025, a significant share of this demand shifted to the Prozorro Market electronic catalog, making traditional Prozorro tenders less saturated with routine items.

This is a critical point: excluding consumables from analysis leads to a distorted view of the market.

Routine Equipment and Basic Infrastructure

The second layer of procurement includes equipment that is not high-tech in the narrow sense, but is critical for everyday operations: digital and mobile X-ray systems, basic diagnostic complexes, and modernization of outdated infrastructure.

This segment shows the highest number of procedures during the war. The reason is straightforward: such equipment is quickly commissioned, requires relatively short staff training cycles, and directly impacts hospital throughput, particularly in frontline and high-load regions.

Computed Tomography as a Point of Investment Concentration

Against this backdrop, procurement of CT scanners does not resemble a “medical boom,” but rather a logical response to systemic pressure.

In the pre-war period, Ukraine procured approximately 5–10 CT scanners per year, primarily as isolated projects. During 2023–2025, this figure increased to roughly 15–30 systems annually. More importantly, the change is not only quantitative. Procurements have become more standardized, with repeatable configurations and a clear focus on emergency medicine and trauma care.

Angiography and Highly Specialized Care

Angiography systems remain a narrow segment in terms of procedure count, but their role during the war has grown significantly. While pre-war procurement was limited to isolated cases (1–3 projects per year), angiography has become a regular tool for strengthening reference hospitals.

These are high-value, project-based procurements with budgets reaching tens of millions of hryvnias, directly linked to the treatment of complex injuries and vascular pathologies.

Laboratory Automation and IVD Infrastructure

The laboratory segment deserves separate attention. During the war, laboratory workloads increased no less than those of emergency departments. In response, the state and donors began investing not only in standalone analyzers, but in automated lines and integrated solutions.

This is a relatively small segment in volume, but a strategically important one, generating long-term efficiency gains for the healthcare system as a whole.

Comparative Overview by Segment

Prozorro and Prozorro Market: What This Means for Manufacturers

One of the most common mistakes is assessing the Ukrainian market solely through classic Prozorro tenders. A substantial share of demand — especially for consumables — has systematically shifted to Prozorro Market. As a result, traditional Prozorro increasingly reflects complex and project-based procurements.

For market participants, this means one thing: the visibility of high-tech tenders does not indicate a “boom,” but rather a structural redistribution of procurement channels.

This Is Not a Medical Boom: Constraints and Risks

It is equally important to acknowledge the limitations. The Ukrainian medical device market remains:

• regionally uneven;
• partially dependent on donor funding;
• constrained by infrastructure and workforce availability.

High-tech projects do not offset the overall market contraction and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of rapid sales growth.

Conclusions

The Ukrainian medical device market during the war is neither a story of growth nor of collapse. It is a story of adaptation. Core demand is concentrated in consumables and basic infrastructure, while selective investments continue in technologies critical to system resilience.

For both international and domestic manufacturers, this implies the need for a realistic approach: deep segment understanding, readiness to work with public procurement mechanisms, and a focus not only on price, but also on service and regulatory compliance.

Methodology and Sources

This analysis is based on open data and publicly available analytical materials from Prozorro, Prozorro Market, Medical Procurement of Ukraine, the World Bank, WHO, and the European Commission. The conclusions represent the author’s analytical interpretation of these sources.