By Katya Shtamburg, Nova Mova International Programs Manager
According to a report issued by a Ukrainian regional health care center, life expectancy for Ukrainians is about five years less than for other Eastern Europeans and about 12 years less than residents of Western Europe.
The Zhitomir Oblast Health Care Center published the results of the study, which analyzed life expectancy and other aging issues for men and women, both in Ukraine as a whole and in different regions of the country. The report also noted a number of other statistics regarding health-care issues for the elderly.
Overall, the average life expectancy in Ukraine is about 67 years, which is 4-5 years less than in Eastern Europe and 11-13 years less than in Western Europe. Ukrainian men can expect to live, on average, for 61.5 years, while the average life expectancy for women is 73.4 years.
Rates of aging vary by about 18 percent from region to region. People age and die sooner in the more industrial regions of the country, while longevity is highest in rural areas.
The Zhitomir physicians provided a variety of interesting statistics and issues. For example, more than 18 percent of the population over 70 requires daily health care and medical help, 82 percent take medicines several time per day, and 20 percent need special psychological help.
The rising cost of health care in Ukraine is another problem cited by the report. The cost of medicines, in particular, is becoming a serious problem for the elderly. Many old people can’t afford to buy medicines of high quality and have to replace them with cheaper, and often less effective, alternatives.