In small Ukrainian communities, access to healthcare is often determined by more than just the availability of a doctor. It is important whether the local outpatient clinic has the necessary equipment, can operate during power outages, and is adapted for people with disabilities. And when it comes to recovery after serious injuries, another question arises: can rehabilitation be received close to home, without traveling to the regional center?
In the Kozelshchyna community in Poltava region, two medical projects addressing precisely these issues were implemented during 2026. In June, an outpatient clinic in the village of Sushky was opened after a major renovation, and in September, a new rehabilitation department was opened in Kozelshchyna.
Both projects were implemented by the Nadiietvortsi Foundation, founded by entrepreneur and investor Mykola Sushko, who himself is originally from Poltava region. The foundation is part of the Sushko Philanthropy family charitable initiative.
Four villages and one outpatient clinic
The medical outpatient clinic in the village of Sushky serves more than just local residents. Residents of Pryharivka, Andriivka, and Panasivka also seek care there. On average, 15 patients visit the outpatient clinic each day, and more than 2,500 visits are recorded there annually.
For such a number of patients, the condition of the outpatient clinic has very practical importance. This is especially true for people with chronic illnesses who need to regularly monitor their health, undergo tests, and consult with a family doctor.
The outpatient clinic building was constructed back in 1986. Four decades later, it required comprehensive renovation. The reconstruction lasted seven months, and on June 3, 2026, the facility reopened to patients.
During the renovation, the utility networks, roof, windows, and doors were replaced, the facade was insulated, and the interior spaces were re-equipped. The outpatient clinic received 19 pieces of medical equipment, 57 pieces of medical furniture, and 107 pieces of other equipment.
The new equipment includes an electrocardiograph capable of remote consultations with a regional cardiologist, a spirometer, and blood and urine analyzers. This makes it possible to conduct some examinations directly in the village, without referring patients to other medical facilities.іуер
Accessibility was addressed separately. A lift, handrails, tactile paving, and information signs with Braille were installed in the building. For people with disabilities or mobility impairments, this means they can see a doctor without additional physical barriers.
Another change concerns the power supply. Solar panels and an inverter were installed at the outpatient clinic so that the facility can continue operating during power outages.
Interestingly, the reconstruction was not limited to the medical offices. Housing for the doctor was also renovated. In small communities, where attracting and retaining medical professionals remains a separate challenge, housing conditions can be no less important than the equipment of the facility itself.
Rehabilitation without trips to the regional center
The second project in the Kozelshchyna community is of a different scale. On September 3, 2026, a rehabilitation department was opened at the local central hospital, designed to treat adults and children, civilians and military personnel.
To create it, a historic building that had previously been part of the Kozelshchyna monastery complex was reconstructed. The building is more than a century old, so the renovation required combining modern requirements for medical premises with the preservation of historic architectural elements.
The work lasted approximately eight months. The reconstruction cost nearly UAH 45 million. The project was implemented by Nadiietvortsi in partnership with the Kozelshchyna territorial community.
The department was equipped with physical and occupational therapy halls, offices for a psychologist and a speech and language therapist, as well as inpatient rooms.
The equipment includes specialized exercise machines and a ceiling-mounted system that helps safely move patients with limited mobility.
There is also an adapted kitchen here. It is not intended for cooking, but for restoring everyday living skills. After severe injuries or illnesses, a person sometimes has to relearn how to perform ordinary daily activities—from using kitchen utensils to preparing meals independently.
According to its planned capacity, the department will be able to receive up to 380 patients per year: approximately 230 on an outpatient basis and 150 as inpatients. Outpatient rehabilitation is currently operating, while the inpatient unit is scheduled to launch at the next stage.
This is an important distinction: the department is already open, but the full range of planned services has yet to be provided.
Why equipment is only part of the project
Creating a rehabilitation department requires more than renovating premises and purchasing exercise equipment. Effective patient recovery requires a team of specialists who can work together and develop individual treatment programs.
That is why, even before the department opened, medical workers from Kozelshchyna Hospital visited the Ministry of Health's rehabilitation centers of excellence in Ivano-Frankivsk and Dnipro, where they familiarized themselves with the organization of rehabilitation care.
Hospital employees also took part in the "Adaptive and Inclusive" forum in Kyiv.
This part of the project is less visible than the new premises or equipment; however, the effectiveness with which the new department's capabilities are used depends to a great extent on the training of specialists.
This approach is consistent with the principles of the Nadiietvortsi Foundation's work. Before starting projects, it analyzes the needs of medical institutions and involves doctors, scientists, and community representatives in decision-making. The goal is not only to upgrade infrastructure, but also to create conditions for the long-term improvement of the quality of medical services.
Why Sushko is investing specifically in Kozelshchyna
For Mykola Sushko, the Kozelshchyna community is not an accidentally chosen area for charitable activity. The entrepreneur is originally from Kozelshchyna in the Poltava region, and the projects implemented here have become part of his foundation's broader work to support Ukrainian medicine.
"I was born in this land and know well how important it is for a small community to have access to quality healthcare close to home," Sushko said, explaining his involvement in developing local medical institutions.
In the case of Kozelshchyna, the support covered two different levels of medical care. The first is family medicine, which is where contact with the healthcare system begins for most people. The second is rehabilitation, which patients need after injuries, surgeries, and serious illnesses.
Together, these projects are changing the capabilities of local medicine. Residents of four villages received a renovated outpatient clinic with diagnostic equipment, while Kozelshchyna gained a department where outpatient rehabilitation is already available.
The launch of inpatient care and the full use of the new rehabilitation space are still ahead.
The further operation of both institutions will show the extent to which these investments affect the availability of medical services in the community. But the changes can already be assessed through concrete things: examinations that have become available closer to home, new recovery opportunities for patients, and the conditions in which local medical workers operate.