Training in France: 15 Ukrainian doctors enhance skills at leading oncology centers
Fifteen doctors from various medical institutions in Ukraine are undergoing internships at four leading French centers in the field of oncology. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Unicancer network of oncology hospitals as well as healthcare institutions such as the Gustave Roussy Institute, the Curie Institute, Paris Public Hospitals (APHP) and Marseille Public Hospitals (APHM).
The cooperation is funded by the Crisis and Support Center of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France within the framework of the APPUI project.
Among the Ukrainian medical professionals are radiation therapists, oncological surgeons, mammologists, chemotherapists, and oncologists from healthcare institutions in Cherkasy, Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kropyvnytskyi.
The training and internships for our medical professionals are part of the French-Ukrainian collaboration in oncology. Under this program, 45 Ukrainian doctors will undergo internships at medical institutions in France from September 2024 to August 2025.
““Last year, the government adopted the National Strategy for Cancer Control through 2030. It aims to reduce the incidence and mortality rates of oncological diseases. To achieve this, we are working on improving the quality of medical care, among other initiatives. As part of the cooperation between Ukraine and France, our medical professionals are currently undergoing internships and enhancing their skills at the leading oncology centers in France. We also have a ratified agreement between our countries, which provides for the equipping of Ukrainian medical institutions with modern mammography equipment. This is a step toward improving early diagnosis. We extend our gratitude to France for its support and commitment to our collaboration/”
The medical professionals' training program within the framework of French-Ukrainian cooperation is structured in three stages, as follows:
- First stage: October 7–18, 2024—Radiation therapy, hematology, oncology of the digestive system, and bone marrow transplantation. During this visit, medical professionals exchanged experiences in the treatment of oncological diseases and familiarized themselves with the latest scientific and technological advancements.
- Second stage: March 3–15, 2025—Surgery, medical oncology, radiation therapy and radiology, and oncological hematology.
- Third stage: June 2025—Male and female oncological diseases, neuro-oncology, and more.
In addition to the internships, medical professionals will have the opportunity to participate in specialized webinars on multidisciplinary consultations and medical procurements.
For reference:
Bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and France has been going on since the beginning of the full-scale war. This includes a project focused on breast cancer, which will provide healthcare facilities with modern diagnostic equipment for breast cancer detection, such as mammographs, and introduce advanced technologies for treating women.
Another key area of cooperation is a project focused on deploying mobile hospitals to ensure that Ukrainians in the regions most affected by the war have access to quality medical services.
Additionally, there are projects aimed at restoring critical medical infrastructure and healthcare delivery systems, as well as collaboration within the Expertise France initiative. This includes the exchange of experience, training of medical personnel, the establishment of exchange programs between hospitals in both countries, and more.
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine expresses its gratitude to the French partners for their invaluable contribution to Ukraine's fight for life and the future. Ukraine remains ready and eager to engage in initiatives that will deepen cooperation between the two countries.