Healthcare Access Barriers and Unmet Healthcare Needs Among Ukrainian Temporary Protection Holders: Insights from an NGO Support Initiative in Slovakia

Following displacement caused by the war in Ukraine in 2022, Slovakia progressively expanded healthcare entitlements for Temporary Protection (TP) holders. Yet formal eligibility does not guarantee effective access. This study explored healthcare-related challenges and needs experienced by Ukrainian TP holders seeking assistance through an NGO-led support initiative in Slovakia. Qualitative content analysis following Krippendorff’s six-step process was conducted using open-ended responses from 440 questionnaires submitted to the “Call for Support” initiative implemented by EQUITA, a non-governmental organization, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration in November 2025. Responses were inductively coded into analytical domains, categories and subcategories and illustrated with respondent quotations. Three analytical domains were identified: (1) health conditions and reasons for seeking healthcare assistance, (2) healthcare access barriers, and (3) unmet healthcare needs. Chronic health problems were the most frequently identified health conditions. Financial constraints and competing household demands were the most frequently reported access barrier, followed by difficulties navigating the healthcare system. Unmet healthcare needs mostly concerned specialist, dental, and vision care, while financial constraints affected access across multiple types of healthcare. Some respondents described co-occurring access barriers, and more than one-quarter reported multiple unmet healthcare needs. Among Ukrainian TP holders applying for NGO support, formal healthcare entitlements did not consistently translate into effective access to needed care. The findings highlight co-occurring financial and health-system barriers and diverse unmet healthcare needs among this support-seeking group. Improved healthcare navigation, financial protection, and clear and consistently implemented entitlement arrangements may facilitate access to care.