Restore people, and they will restore the country: the role of healthcare in preserving human capital discussed at URC 2026.
On the second day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 (URC 2026) in Gdańsk, a panel discussion titled "People Who Rebuild: Health as a Prerequisite for Ukraine's Development and the Recovery of Its Human Capital" focused on the role of the healthcare system in Ukraine's recovery, the preservation of human capital, and strengthening the country's resilience. The session was moderated by Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine.
The discussion also featured Mariia Karchevych, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine for Digital Development, and Karmen Joller, Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, alongside representatives of the World Bank, civil society, the veteran community, international organizations, and partner initiatives. Panelists included Antonella Bassani, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia; Ukrainian veteran Viacheslav Chernenko; former NASA astronaut and UNITED24 Medical Aid Ambassador Scott Kelly; and Wojtek Wilk, President of the Polish Center for International Aid Foundation.
“For more than four years of Russia's full-scale war, Ukraine's healthcare system has continued to operate under extraordinary challenges, including constant attacks, power outages, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted logistics. During this time, more than 2,600 healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Yet the system has not stopped for a single day: hospitals have continued to treat patients, and healthcare professionals have continued to save lives. Today, our priority is not only to rebuild what has been destroyed but also to develop a modern healthcare system capable of delivering continuous, high-quality, and accessible care regardless of the circumstances.”
The scale of recovery needs in Ukraine's healthcare sector remains immense. More than 830 healthcare facilities and over 2,600 individual medical infrastructure assets have been confirmed as damaged or destroyed. According to the fifth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5), the total cost of rebuilding and restoring Ukraine's healthcare system over the next ten years is estimated at USD 23.6 billion.
Against this backdrop, panelists discussed the critical role of preserving human capital in Ukraine's recovery. The conversation focused on how the healthcare system can help people return to active lives, strengthen communities, and serve as a foundation for the country's long-term development.
Special attention was given to the continued transformation of Ukraine's healthcare system, including strengthening primary healthcare, expanding rehabilitation and mental health services, supporting veterans, modernizing healthcare infrastructure, retaining the healthcare workforce, accelerating digital transformation, fostering business engagement in medical innovation, and deepening international cooperation in the health sector.
Rehabilitation was highlighted as one of the key priorities, as it enables people recovering from injuries, trauma, and serious illnesses to regain independence and return to active life. Today, rehabilitation services are provided by more than 560 healthcare facilities across Ukraine. The system is capable of delivering over 16,000 rehabilitation sessions daily, supported by nearly 11,000 specialists working in multidisciplinary teams.
During the session, former NASA astronaut and UNITED24 Medical Aid Ambassador Scott Kelly also announced a new fundraising campaign for ambulances for Ukraine. These vehicles will strengthen emergency medical services in frontline and the most heavily affected regions, where timely evacuation and patient transport are often lifesaving. More information is available via the official announcement.
Overall, the panel served as an important platform for advancing international dialogue on Ukraine's recovery and the development of a modern, patient-centred healthcare system—one that places people, their health, resilience, and ability to return to full and active lives at its core.
Conference video