International medical partnership in action: 34 memorandums of cooperation signed in 9 months
This was discussed during a conference on international medical partnership with the participation of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko.
“This is a very important project for me, because we launched it on the sidelines of the First Ladies and Gentlemen Summit last September. I am grateful to Minister of Health Viktor Liashko and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health for constantly developing international medical partnerships.”
“Last September, under the auspices of the Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, we launched the International Medical Partnership Program. Back then, 25 Ukrainian hospitals received their counterparts from abroad. Currently, we have 34 signed memorandums. The program is constantly expanding and demonstrating its effectiveness: Ukrainian doctors have the opportunity to directly study the world’s leading experience and share their own. New projects are emerging, such as an expert school on reconstruction technology and plastic surgery for traumatic injuries. Thus, the expansion of the global network of international medical partnerships contributes to improving the quality of medical care in Ukraine. Despite the difficulties and challenging conditions, our medical system is becoming stronger and more prepared to respond to the challenges caused by a full-scale war.”
The conference was also attended by representatives of the GIZ Health Partnerships Program, the World Health Organization, ministers of health from around the world, and heads of leading hospitals, both Ukrainian and international. During the conference, representatives of medical institutions had the opportunity to present the results of their cooperation and successful partnership stories.
According to the participants of the event, successful international medical partnerships are based primarily on medical diplomacy and human capital development. After all, qualitative changes in the medical system are possible and effective when the medical community establishes strong relationships. Thanks to the experience and skills gained, Ukrainian and foreign doctors will be able to provide patients with high-quality and modern care that meets the challenges of the times.
Nine medical institutions from France, three medical institutions from each Moldova and Germany, and two each from Lithuania, Latvia, Israel, Sweden, and North Macedonia became twinned with Ukrainian hospitals within the framework of the medical partnership, and also leading hospitals from Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Turkey. On the Ukrainian side, medical institutions from Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, Ternopil, and Zakarpattia oblasts joined the partnership.
In addition, 9 new partnerships between Ukrainian and foreign clinics were signed during the conference:
- France and two Ukrainian hospitals: I. I. Mechnikov Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Clinical Hospital and the National Children's Specialized Hospital “OKHMATDYT”;
- Poland and the First Medical Association of Lviv, St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital;
- Great Britain and Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital;
- Germany and five medical institutions in Ukraine: Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv; Institute of Neurology, Psychiatry and Narcology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv; Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University; Regional Clinical Center of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Uzhhorod; and Ternopil Regional Clinical Psychoneurological Hospital.
The conference participants also discussed the importance of implementing international medical partnerships and the vision of further steps in this area. The recommendations and results of the work will become the basis for deepening international medical partnerships between Ukrainian and world hospitals.
The event was supported by the Hospital Partnership funding program (GIZ), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Expertise France, and the World Health Organization.
It is also worth noting that in April 2024 alone, 186 healthcare workers, including 79 doctors from 45 medical institutions from different oblasts of Ukraine, participated in scientific events, including conferences, congresses, trainings, seminars abroad, etc. Ukrainian medics have been trained in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Latvia, Spain and other countries. Thus, our medics continue to learn from the experience of their foreign colleagues and improve their professional level and practical skills.
For reference: Last year, Kyiv hosted the Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen. At the invitation of First Lady Olena Zelenska, top officials and opinion leaders from around the world gathered to discuss mental recovery — for every country and every person. One of the main events was the Satellite Summit of Ministers of Health from different countries, which launched the International Medical Partnership Program. At that time, 25 Ukrainian hospitals received “twin” hospitals in different countries to share experience and international practices.