Viktor Liashko cited the figures at a media briefing in the eastern Polish city of Lublin on Tuesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
He thanked the Polish people for the support extended to Ukrainians from the beginning of the war.
He told reporters: “We have been attacked by a terrorist state that is destroying our nation, our health facilities.”
101 hospitals, 400 pharmacies, 100 ambulances destroyed
Liashko said that since February 24, Russia had destroyed 101 hospitals, 400 pharmacies and 100 ambulances in Ukraine.
In addition, 700 hospitals have been severely damaged and 300 healthcare centres are under occupation, he stated.
According to Liashko, Ukrainian doctors in Russian-occupied areas are being pressured to renounce Ukrainian citizenship and not to treat Ukrainians. Moreover, local people are denied access to medicines unless they agree to become Russian citizens, he said.
Heart attacks, strokes
Asked about the biggest problems facing the Ukrainian health system, Liashko replied that people in war-affected areas "are fighting for survival and are not reporting their illnesses and health problems to the doctors."
Meanwhile, “in occupied territories, ambulances can’t be called as the occupiers are disrupting communications systems,” he added.
Liashko also said that “people’s experiences are leading to an increased number of cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks and strokes.”
The Ukrainian health minister came to Poland for the 590 Congress conference, which begins in Warsaw on Wednesday.
The conference is set to explore Poland’s role in the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine’s health care system, among other topics.
Wednesday is day 119 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, kurierlubelski.pl