Проект реконструкції Центру опікової травми “Sumy. Flame of Life

The Sumy Regional Clinical Hospital (SRCH), a non-profit enterprise of the Sumy regional council, is a leading medical institution with the highest accreditation category. It provides care to one-fifth of the region’s population and is the biggest supra-cluster healthcare facility in Sumy region, with the largest hospital bed capacity – 632 inpatient beds and a consultative outpatient clinic for 380 visits per day, ensuring medical care for both the civilian population and military personnel. Its medical license covers 51 specialties.

To provide specialized care, the hospital has strong human resources. Its medical staff includes 237 doctors, among them 8 honored doctors of Ukraine, 2 professors, 1 doctor of medical sciences, 6 associate professors, 32 candidates of medical sciences, 1 candidate of pedagogical sciences, and 1 candidate of biological sciences. Physicians with the highest qualification category make up 32% of the total number of doctors.

The hospital employs a total of 1,345 staff members.

Within SRCH, several highly specialized centers operate interventional radiology with an X-ray surgery unit, joint endoprosthetics, nephrology and hemodialysis, and endocrinology center. The diagnostic and treatment process is supported by paraclinical services such as a clinical diagnostic laboratory, functional diagnostics, radiology, endoscopy, and rehabilitation departments.

The material and technical base is gradually improving but requires modernization and further development. In 2021, a decision was made to construct a new 9-story surgical building with a modern operating block and anesthesiology department with intensive care beds, a chronic hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis unit, and modern medical equipment. This would significantly improve the quality of medical care in Sumy region, ensuring comfortable conditions for both patients and staff. Unfortunately, the full-scale military aggression in 2022 of ru against Ukraine disrupted these plans. Nevertheless, we are confident that they will eventually be implemented.

Burns are among the most severe injuries in global medical practice. In Ukraine, due to the war, the number of patients with burn injuries continues to rise. Before the war, most burn cases were related to household accidents. The war has dramatically changed this statistic. In 2025, more than 35% of patients suffered injuries during attacks. Mine-explosive wounds are among the most severe trauma types, often accompanied by extensive burns to various parts of the body. These injuries require highly qualified care, urgent surgical interventions, and prolonged rehabilitation.

The Burn Department of SRCH is the one specialized center in the Sumy region providing treatment for burn patients using modern European methods of diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation.

It has 20 beds, including 3 for children. The provision of specialized burn beds for the adult population of the region is 0.16 per 10,000 population (Ukraine – 0.19). The department is located on the 3^rd floor of Building 2 at 48 Troitska Street, Sumy.

Currently, it has 8 wards with 2 to 6 beds each, 3 dressing rooms, 1 room for treatment manipulations, and 1 operating room with a single table. Each bed is allocated 5.75 m² of space, which is 4.25 m² below the standard. The department staff consists of 2 full-time burn surgeons and 2 part-time doctors, 10 nurses, and 9 nurse assistants.

Early surgical treatment of burns, particularly in children, is applied: early necrectomy and dermabrasion with simultaneous xenodermoplasty and autodermoplasty. Surgical treatment is performed for almost all types of skin loss. The department also treats patients with frostbite, trophic ulcers, and bedsores.

In 2024 the department provided inpatient care to 270 patients, including 10 children. It performed up to 450 surgical interventions in 2024, with more than 50% being autodermoplasty and combined plastic surgeries, 5% amputations and total osteonecrotomies, and 3% reconstructive surgeries. Surgical activity of burn surgeons is 66.8% (2023 – 61%). Surgeries of level III–IV complexity account for 60% (2023 – 52.2%).

In 2025, the average treatment duration decreased to 21.8 days (from 22.8 in 2023) due to the introduction of early rehabilitation and evacuation of patients to safer hospitals outside the region.

Due to the limited equipment capacity of the burn department and the tense military situation, up to 20% of patients – including military personnel with severe injuries – are evacuated to Kyiv city clinical hospital №2, and St. Panteleimon’s hospital in Lviv (10 patients in 2023, 51 patients in 2024).

In Ukraine, there is a limited number of burn centers specializing in complex burn treatment. This restricts patients’ access, especially from remote regions to highly qualified care. Additional challenges include long distances to care, insufficient funding for modern equipment and medicines, a shortage of qualified medical personnel experienced in burn care (surgeons, nurses, rehabilitation specialists), and high workloads for staff working under stressful conditions.

The creation of a modern Burn Center in Sumy region will improve access to specialized care by doubling the number of treated patients and surgical interventions (500 patients; 900 surgeries annually). Moreover, it will expand the range of surgical procedures, with increasing number of reconstructive operations up to 20% (180 cases).

The Burn Ward will provide care for patients with thermal injuries among civilians, military personnel, workers in hazardous industries, and children, using modern methods of diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation, incorporating advances in medical science, technology, and international best practices. Additional space will allow the separation of pediatric and adult patient, ensuring better comfort for both patients and medical staff.

Burn patients have historically been considered the most resource-intensive among surgical profiles. According to statistical data, in 1993, the full course of burn treatment in Ukraine cost up to €200,000, primarily due to the need to prevent septic complications and fatalities, which are highest in this cohort, especially in the first hours after injury.

Even today, the basic conditions remain unchanged: the first 48 hours are the “golden window” for creating proper conditions of care, adequate pain management, and restoring the function of affected organs and systems. The correctness of treatment tactics at all stages directly improves patient survival, recovery quality, and reintegration into society.

It should be noted that the hospital also hosts the Department of Surgery, Traumatology, Orthopedics, and Phthisiology of the Academic and Research Medical Institute of Sumy State University, chaired for 25 years by Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Higher School of Ukraine, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Honored Doctor of Ukraine, 2019 Scientist of the Year, and Chairman of the Association of Surgeons of Sumy region – Ihor Duzhyi. Nearly every complex case of medical care is managed jointly with this department.

In addition to close cooperation in specialized care for wounded soldiers and other patients, the department’s staff are engaged in applied scientific research. Seventeen dissertations for Candidate of Medical Sciences and Doctor of Philosophy have been defended at the department. Overall, the center will become a place of comprehensive care: medical, psychological, and social.

Currently, the safety issues of the Burn Center are linked to the physical deterioration of its building (brick wall damage, destroyed porches, damaged roof joints, corroded drainage system, deformed window frames, lack of glazing, partial destruction of reinforced concrete staircases), as well as worn-out utility systems (sewage, water supply, electrical networks, ventilation and air conditioning); non-compliance with thermal insulation requirements under DBN V.2.6-31:2021 “Thermal insulation and energy efficiency of buildings”: the thermal conductivity of a 680 mm brick wall does not meet modern standards; lack of major repairs since time of building construction, absence of a ramp and elevator for barrier-free access, outdated furniture, plumbing, and treatment equipment, as well as high maintenance costs.

At the initiative of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, we have set the goal of creating a modern Burn and Plastic Surgery Center that will provide medical care according to European standards. The project envisions building thermal modernization, construction of a porch with a ramp, addition of an elevator shaft, remodeling of premises, and modern finishing of walls, ceilings, and floors. Outdated utility systems will be replaced.

As a result, the renovated building will feature convenient and functional layouts with the following facilities:

• 8 two-bed wards with universal bathrooms
• 2 intensive care wards with toilets (for 3 beds each)
• an operating block with an operating room, preoperative area, sterilization, washing room, and changing room with bathroom for staff; duty room
• head of ward’s office
• head nurse’s office
• physiotherapist’s office
• staff lounge
• dressing room
• infected patients’ dressing room
• manipulations room
• storage rooms for supplies and medications
• cleaning equipment room

Conditions will also be created for the future use of alternative energy sources (a solar power plant up to 30 kW).

The total estimated cost as of January 22, 2025, is UAH 66,714.654 thousand, including:

• Construction works – UAH 26,189.26 thousand
• Equipment, furniture, inventory – UAH 29,347.39 thousand
• Other expenses – UAH 11,178.004 thousand

The establishment of the Burn Center in Sumy is a strategically important project for the development of the region’s healthcare infrastructure.

Expected outcomes of the project include the implementation of modern medical technologies and treatment methods, expanded capacity for providing care to military personnel and civilians, including children and the elderly. The renovated center will become a vital hub for saving lives, restoring health, and ensuring patients’ return to productive life.