EU member states will continue to actively support the medical system of Ukraine
The member states of the European Union are key partners of Ukraine in the war with the russian federation. This was stated by the Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko during the ministerial meeting of the EU member states, which was also attended by the heads of various institutions of the EU member states in the field of healthcare.
“It is very important for Ukraine to feel the support of the EU countries, because it is the countries of the European region that are our key partners in responding to this unjustified aggression of russia. The healthcare sector is one of the most affected by the war and one of the most loaded. We record an increase in demand for various types of medical care and services. Today, there is not a single hospital in Ukraine that does not contain a Ukrainian who suffered as a result of the war. Every sixth healthcare institution has physically felt on its walls what the so-called “high-precision weapons” of russia mean. Attacks on healthcare facilities are only part of a broader picture of deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, universities, water and electricity systems, transportation, warehouses, food supplies, and more. All these actions are carried out deliberately, including with the aim of pressure and intimidation of the civilian population. For more than 400 days, the aggressor has not realized that nothing will force the Ukrainians to retreat. Just as no gas, energy or political blackmail has forced you, European partners, to step back from helping Ukraine and make concessions to the country that started this war. I am grateful that the level of humanitarian support to Ukraine remains at a high level, and political pressure on the aggressor continues to grow,” said Minister of Health Viktor Liashko, addressing his European colleagues.
The Minister added that russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has created a critical burden on the national health system. To date, more than 1,400 medical facilities have been damaged, and 177 have been completely destroyed. Also, since the beginning of the war, russia has damaged 103 ambulances, destroyed another 250 and captured 125, and attacked almost 700 pharmacies. Many countries have already taken custody of individual regions and institutions. Now the process is being coordinated and ambitious plans are being implemented.
In addition to directly responding to the challenges of a full-scale war, the Ministry continues to work on strategic tasks: reforming the medical system, its restoring, preserving human resources, protecting doctors and improving the efficiency of managing the healthcare system. A development strategy until 2030 and a plan for recovery from the consequences of the war have already been developed.
Representatives of the EU member states confirmed their full and unconditional support for Ukraine in the war against the aggressor and also expressed their readiness to continue to support Ukraine and cooperate in various projects. What is meant here is supporting refugees from Ukraine, integrating medical specialists and simplifying the conditions for employment for them in some EU countries, providing humanitarian assistance, developing services in the field of physical and psychological rehabilitation, participating in the restoration of destroyed or damaged infrastructure, medical evacuation of Ukrainians abroad, increasing the number of mobile hospitals.
The Ministry of Health is also actively working towards integration into the European community. Self-screening is being conducted, and a plan has been developed to bring more than 600 documents in line with EU requirements. Our goal is to create a transparent system where Ukraine can become a full-fledged component of the medical space of the European region on equal terms and will be able to meet these conditions.