Participation of the Head of the “Prosthetics and Orthotics” Educational Program in the MoH Meeting on the Training of Prosthetists-Orthotists

On July 3, 2025, the second meeting of the working group took place in Kyiv, marking another step toward the systemic training of specialists in prosthetics and orthotics.

The goal of the meeting was to coordinate the efforts of various partners in the development of educational programs in the field of prosthetics and orthotics.

Representing I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Tetiana Bakaliuk, the guarantor of the “Prosthetics and Orthotics” Educational and Professional Program, took part in the meeting.

The meeting was moderated by Serhii Ubohov, Head of the Department of Medical Personnel, Education, and Science at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of improving the academic and teaching staff of the prosthetics and orthotics program, enhancing international cooperation, and consolidating efforts in the training of prosthetists-orthotists.

Reports on the development of educational programs in this field were delivered by four program guarantors from universities that launched the “Prosthetics and Orthotics” EPP in 2024 — namely, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, P. Shupyk National University of Health Care of Ukraine, and Kharkiv National Medical University.

Professor Tetiana Bakaliuk, guarantor of the “Prosthetics and Orthotics” program and a faculty member of the Department of Medical Rehabilitation, presented a report “Implementation of the ‘Prosthetics and Orthotics’ EPP at I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.” The presentation highlighted the main achievements and challenges associated with the implementation of the program.

She noted that charitable and civic organizations have provided substantial support in implementing the program by strengthening the material and technical base, supplying access to modern prosthetic and orthotic components, supporting educational initiatives, and organizing workshops with international experts.

Professor Bakaliuk also shared her experience of conducting the first OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) in Ukraine for students specializing in 224.02 “Prosthetics and Orthotics” under the specialty 224 “Medical Diagnostics and Treatment Technologies.”

Antonina Kumka, General Director of the charitable foundation ProstheticsHub, emphasized the importance of cooperation with higher education institutions, the analysis of international guidelines, and the development of programs tailored to Ukraine’s current needs.

Other speakers included Nataliia Melnychenko, Deputy Project Manager of Rehab4U, and Christian Schlierf, representative of Human Study.

During the meeting, participants discussed the current state of training in prosthetics and orthotics, reviewed international experience and best practices, and outlined future directions for joint efforts.

A plan of actions for improving education in the field of prosthetics and orthotics was developed.