International Medical Partnership Forum: day one results in eight new cooperation agreements
On 9 October 2025, the first day of the International Medical Partnership Forum took place in Kyiv under the slogan “From Doctor to Doctor.”
The event brought together leading Ukrainian and international medical professionals from hospitals participating in the International Medical Partnership initiative, launched by the First Lady of Ukraine, along with representatives from relevant authorities and partner country embassies. In total, more than 150 participants from 19 countries attended the event.
The forum was officially opened by Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, and Viktor Liashko, the Minister of Health of Ukraine, who both emphasized the importance of partnerships and medical diplomacy in strengthening the resilience of the global health system.
“We can now say with confidence that medical partnerships not only help Ukraine but also broaden the expertise of all its participants. Ukrainian doctors now possess the most extensive experience in treating war-related injuries globally. Regrettably. But it is this experience that can save the lives of many more people in other settings and countries.”
“International medical partnership is, first and foremost, an important way to strengthen the healthcare system through close cooperation with other countries. It involves the development of a horizontal network of cooperation based on the ‘doctor-to-doctor’ principle, enabling direct interaction between Ukrainian and international medical specialists: they exchange experiences, teach each other, and implement joint solutions. These partnerships provide access to cutting-edge knowledge and technologies, while also allowing us to share with the world the unique expertise Ukrainian doctors have gained under wartime conditions. This is how a new culture of international cooperation in healthcare is being formed.”
During the event, participants also presented examples of successful international cooperation. In particular, doctors from the National Cancer Institute (city of Kyiv), the Regional Family Health Medical Centre (city of Dnipro), as well as partners from Sweden and Lithuania, shared their experiences in saving patients and implementing new medical approaches, which were made possible through collaborative projects and the professional exchange of experience between healthcare establishments.
The key highlight of the Forum was the signing of eight new memoranda of understanding between Ukrainian and international healthcare institutions. These agreements deepen cooperation in oncology, rehabilitation, highly specialized care, and perinatal medicine.
The new partnerships have been established between the following institutions:
- The National Cancer Institute (Ukraine) and the Gustave Roussy Institute (France)
- Kremenchuk City Hospital “Pravoberezhna” and Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital (France)
- Kremenchuk Intensive Care Hospital and Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital (France)
- Kremenchuk Perinatal Center and Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital (France)
- Chernihiv Regional Children's Hospital and Lille University Hospital (France)
- The Ministry of Health of Ukraine and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
- Dnipropetrovsk Regional Clinical Hospital named after I. I. Mechnykov and Razom for Ukraine (USA)
- Dnipropetrovsk Regional Clinical Hospital named after I. I. Mechnykov and Kaunas Clinic of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (Lithuania)
In total, eight new memoranda were signed today. The areas of cooperation cover key healthcare sectors, including oncology, perinatal care, rehabilitation, and emergency medical services.
Notably, a memorandum between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) brings 17 more German medical institutions into the partnership network.
Thus, the total number of international partnerships under the Initiative has reached 95.
These agreements will serve as a solid foundation for further cooperation between Ukrainian and international hospitals, enabling the implementation of modern clinical solutions, professional training opportunities for Ukrainian specialists at leading global clinics, experience exchange, and joint project implementation aimed at strengthening the resilience of Ukraine’s healthcare system.
As part of the Forum’s closing programme, international delegations visited three Ukrainian hospitals participating in the International Medical Partnership: the National Cancer Institute, the National Children's Specialized Hospital “Okhmatdyt,” and the Feofaniia Clinical Hospital.
For reference, the International Medical Partnership is an initiative launched by Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, in 2023 at the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a unique example of horizontal cooperation between Ukrainian and international healthcare institutions. This initiative is significant amid the ongoing war, where every action aimed at exchanging experience and fostering development is a step towards our shared victory.
The initiative brings together Ukrainian and international medical institutions located in France, Poland, Sweden, Spain, the Czech Republic, Israel, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Moldova, Canada, Austria, the Netherlands, and others.
Areas of cooperation include oncology, surgery, mental health, palliative care, transplantation, neonatology, rehabilitation, and telemedicine.
The Initiative is already delivering tangible results. More than 700 Ukrainian healthcare professionals have undergone training and internships at foreign clinics, and approximately 150 joint surgeries have been performed. Additionally, over 400 patients have received medical care, and Ukrainian doctors have made more than 20 international visits to exchange experiences and best practices.
For more information on the implementation of the International Medical Partnership, please follow the link.