Ukraine and Denmark to strengthen development of medical partnership: declaration signed

Danish Minister for the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde paid a working visit to Ukraine. She signed a declaration of intent to strengthen cooperation in the healthcare sector with the Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko.

"The visit of Ms. Sophie Løhde is very important for Ukraine. We appreciate this gesture of support from Denmark. During the Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, Denmark became one of the 16 countries which supported the statement on building a sustainable international partnership in healthcare. At the same time, the Kyiv Oblast Children's Hospital received a "sister" hospital from Denmark, the Maria Elizabeth Hospital for Children, Adolescents and Young Families, thus joining the international medical partnership initiative. Now these medical institutions are actively cooperating. I am convinced that consolidating this horizontal interaction between doctors at the global level will strengthen our medical systems and allow us to respond effectively to challenges, whether it is a pandemic or a war. Today we signed a document that sets the foundation for further development of a sustainable medical partnership. We have identified the following key areas: improving access to healthcare, including primary healthcare, with a special focus on mental health; regulating the circulation of medicines and medical devices, and combating antimicrobial resistance," said Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine.

The signed declaration of intent includes the exchange of experience between medical experts, cooperation with non-governmental organizations, including academic institutions, charitable organizations, and civil society institutions, training, seminars and master classes, participation in conferences, etc.

During the bilateral meeting, Danish Minister for the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde announced the donation of 3,000 hearing aids to Ukraine. The devices will be used to support Ukrainian soldiers who have lost their hearing as a result of war injuries. The issue of hearing loss has become very relevant since the beginning of the full-scale war, as the risks are much higher in such conditions due to loud explosions and gunfire.

The Ministers of Health of Ukraine and Denmark also visited the Kyiv Oblast Children's Hospital. The event was attended by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. The heads of the Kyiv Oblast Children's Hospital and Mary Elizabeth's Hospital in Copenhagen (Mary Elizabeth's Hospital — Rigshospitalet for Children, Teens and Expecting Families) shared their experience of cooperation launched under the international medical partnership program. Ukrainian specialists undergo training and learn the best international practices from their Danish colleagues. Particular attention is paid to oncology, rehabilitation care, and the implementation of protocols under EU standards.

For example, Danish experts working in the area of pediatric physical rehabilitation conducted a series of online trainings for specialists of the Kyiv Oblast Children's Hospital and other Ukrainian hospitals. Joint work is underway to develop new modern areas of surgical care: combustiology, orthopedics and traumatology, and minimally invasive surgery.  

Another important topic is mental health. Since the opening of the Children's Hospital's Pediatric Psychiatry Department, more than 1,000 young patients with mental health disorders have been treated. The project of the Mental Health Center has been developed in compliance with the requirements of inclusiveness. 

In addition, the hospitals are establishing cooperation to improve the detection and treatment of orphan diseases and improve nursing services. An online conference was held on the experience of implementing the concept of empowering nurses.