Ukraine

Infectious diseases — Table I

Officially
registered
Hepatitis C cases
Officially
registered
AIDS cases
TB – new and relapse cases
Estimated
HIV cases
Officially
registered
HIV cases
It is estimated that more than 5% of Ukrainians are infected with hepatitis C (2 107 660), and 3.6% (1,517,515) have chronic hepatitis C. Currently, 82 564 people with hepatitis C are registered officially (01.01.2019)147 778 (01.01.2021)217 593 (01.01.2021)3250 000 [230 000-270 000] (2019)4144 089 (01.01.2021)5

HIV situation

Currently, Ukraine has the highest prevalence of HIV in Europe with an epidemic concentrated among vulnerable groups, particularly people who inject drugs. As a major migration route between Asia and Europe, Ukraine has high rates of human trafficking, sex work and injecting drug use, all of which further fuel the epidemic. Additionally, the epidemic is growing among men who have sex with men and is quickly spreading into the general population via heterosexual transmission.

Although the Ukrainian government has shown support for HIV prevention and treatment initiatives, efforts are hampered by discrimination towards high-risk groups, the poor coordination and integration of services, and insufficient human resource capacities, as well as an insufficient budget allocated for HIV programmes by the state. Limited coordination between HIV, tuberculosis and drug treatment services has resulted in a fragmented approach to dealing with the growing epidemic.