Academy
Development of apheresis capability in Ukraine: From a National needs assessment to training and empowering healthcare professionals
Olena Nesterenko
State Non-Commercial Enterprise “National Children’s Specialised Hospital “Okhmatdyt”, Ukraine
Mariia Babaskina
State Non-Commercial Enterprise “National Children’s Specialised Hospital “Okhmatdyt”, Ukraine
Hans Vrielink
Consultant in Transfusion- and Apheresis Medicine and blood banking techniques, Netherlands
Marleen M.Neyrinck
Department of Haematology, AZ Delta Hospital, Belgium
Ukraine is currently witnessing a rapid development in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, cellular therapy, and advanced transfusion support, building confidence in the country's healthcare system despite wartime challenges.
A significant turning point for the bone marrow and organ transplantation service in Ukraine was the new transplantation legislation, which came into force in 2019. (Figure 1. BMT development in Ukraine[AI1.1]) The new regulations have offered many opportunities to develop unrelated transplantation, create a national transplantation programme, and introduce new cell therapies for patients. Since then, this has led to a steady increase in the number of transplantation cases and stem cell collections. This growth has created a pressing need for skilled transfusion medicine and apheresis specialists. But even with rising interest in apheresis, there remains a shortage of structured educational programmes and limited access to experienced apheresis specialists across the country and its regions. Therefore, the need for collaborative effort to promote professional training becomes evident.
Figure 1. BMT development in Ukraine
In April 2025, the Blood Service Centre Okhmatdyt team of the Children's Hospital in Kyiv initiated a survey to identify existing educational gaps among medical apheresis specialists. As a follow-up initiative, we interviewed physicians, nurses, transfusion medicine specialists, and other health workers involved in apheresis procedures about their current situation and needs. We received responses from the specialists across different regions of Ukraine (Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, and Cherkasy).
There were institutions such as transplant centres, paediatric and adult haematological departments, blood services, and intensive care units. In more than 80% of cases, they reported a lack of structured training in the field in Ukraine. Furthermore, in more than 70% of cases, they noted a lack of opportunities for practical training. (Fig. Survey results on apheresis education in Ukraine)
Survey results on apheresis education in Ukraine
It should be noted that almost all the specialists reported a need for ongoing communication with experienced colleagues and mentors in apheresis. Some common issues identified by the participants included: insufficient practical training, limited access to qualified mentors, a lack of local educational courses, and the need for a multidisciplinary collaboration among transfusion medicine, haematology, intensive care, and transplantation teams.
The survey showed an urgent need for a dedicated national educational initiative focused on safe and effective apheresis practice. It is important to note that, through this research, it became clear that the health professionals were highly motivated to enhance their expertise and establish a professional network for further experience and knowledge exchange.
During the session, 1st day of meeting: from the left - Anatolii Kravets, Serhii Horbachov, Yaryna Bushtyn
During the session, 1st day of meeting: from the left - Hans Vrielink, Mariia Babaskina, Yaryna Bushtyn, Serhii Horbachov, Anatolii Kravets, Evgenia Yakhnevska, Marleen Neyrinck.
The feedback showed both the academic significance of the initiative and its emotional component. The majority of those who took part in the event are deeply grateful for the opportunity to gain valuable experience from the faculty and to share views with their peers who faced similar problems in their workplaces. Some of the participants noted that the training programme gave them extra motivation to continue acquiring professional skills within their centres.
The training became more than just an educational event; it evolved into a platform that laid the foundation for Ukrainian healthcare professionals focused on apheresis and cellular therapy. We hope the platform will facilitate creating a sense of belonging and shaping purpose among the transfusion medicine specialists community. One of the most inspiring achievements was participants’ willingness to share. After the training, attendees organized local educational meetings and workshops with their colleagues, extending the project’s impact beyond the initial audience.
Speakers and participants after the 2nd training day. From the left: Yaryna Bushtyn, Serhii Horbachov, Evgenia Yakhnevska, Olena Nesterenko, Marleen Neyrinck, Mariia Kochederia, Mariia Babaskina, Hans Vrielink and Anatolii Kravets.
In the future, we are planning to develop our initiative and create an online training course covering the topics of apheresis, transfusions, and cell therapy, which can be considered as one of the methods to ensure long-term sustainable access to good-quality educational resources. The virtual component of this training is intended to extend the impact of hands-on training by providing opportunities for continuous professional development, peer-to-peer learning, and ongoing exchange of expertise. By strengthening the community of practice established during in-person training, the initiative seeks to support the long-term development of safe, high-quality, and apheresis services in Ukraine.
We would like to express our gratitude to Dr Vrielink and Mrs Neyrinck, whose expertise, mentorship, and unwavering commitment were instrumental to the success of this initiative. Our sincere appreciation also goes to ISBT Academy for its support and recognition of the need to develop educational infrastructures in countries where the practice of transfusion medicine continues to advance despite difficult conditions. International cooperation and solidarity are imperative for providing safe donor services and high-quality treatment to patients.
Last day of meeting. Speakers and all participants with certificates: from the left - Olena Nesterenko, Mariia Kochederia, Serhii Horbachov, Hans Vrielink, Marleen Neyrinck, Evgenia Yakhnevska, Anatolii Kravets, Mariia Babaskina, Yaryna Bushtyn
