EU and UNDP provide Ukraine with specially equipped vehicles for palliative care

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, have distributed six specialized vehicles among medical institutions that have contracts for the provision of palliative care.

The initiative aims to facilitate access to palliative care for patients and their families, especially in remote areas, by providing them with comfortable and safe transportation to medical facilities.

The vehicles will enable multidisciplinary teams to provide palliative care and support to patients and their families, ensuring comfort and dignity. The cars are equipped with patient lifts for people with disabilities, as well as wheelchairs and other auxiliary equipment.

Mariia Karchevych, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine for Digital Development, expressed her gratitude to the international partners for their reliable support: “This initiative is a significant step forward in the development of Ukraine’s healthcare sector, particularly in the area of palliative care. The cars will allow us to provide more accessible, timely and high-quality care to patients in difficult life circumstances. We are grateful to the EU and UNDP for their assistance in implementing important projects that directly affect the health and well-being of the Ukrainian people.”

Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, emphasized the importance of joint efforts and consistent support for Ukraine from the EU. “In the face of challenges, the European Union has launched a comprehensive response to ensure that the people of Ukraine have access to basic services, including healthcare. The provision of the palliative care vehicles is a step forward in our global commitment to improve access to and quality of healthcare for vulnerable populations, especially in war-affected areas.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers emphasized the urgent need to improve health care, a fundamental human right, especially during the ongoing war in Ukraine. “Today, thanks to the support of the European Union and in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine, UNDP is proud to contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s social infrastructure. This initiative is just part of our broader efforts across Ukraine, demonstrating UNDP’s commitment to ensuring equal access to health services for all and improving the lives of those in need.”

The palliative care vehicles were procured and equipped by UNDP Ukraine in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine with financial support from the European Union under the EU4Recovery - Empowering Communities in Ukraine (EU4Recovery) project.

The vehicles were delivered to six communities: Nizhyn, Chernihiv oblast; Konotop and Romny, Sumy oblast; Kamianske, Dnipro oblast; Myrhorod, Poltava oblast; and Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv oblast.