Ukraine and Finland sign a technical agreement on healthcare as part of a security agreement between the two countries
Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko and Minister of Social Affairs and Health of Finland Kaisa Juuso signed a technical agreement to strengthen and develop bilateral cooperation in the field of health care and public health in the presence of the prime ministers of both countries. The technical agreement is aimed at implementing the agreement on security cooperation and long-term support between Ukraine and Finland.
“Ukraine and Finland continue to strengthen their partnership. Today, we are officially signing a technical agreement on cooperation in the field of healthcare to implement the security agreement concluded on April 3, 2024, during the meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of Finland Alexander Stubb. The unity of democratic countries around the restoration of a just peace in Ukraine is the key to a peaceful and secure future for the entire civilized world. Each security agreement and its further implementation is a step towards this. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Finland has been actively helping our country in general and the medical system in particular: treatment and rehabilitation of injured Ukrainians, numerous humanitarian aid, and strong support in the international arena. Today, we have once again seen that Finland’s position is unwavering in its support for Ukraine in countering russian military aggression and restoring the global legal order based on international law. Our heroes risk their lives and health for this every day. Our task is to consolidate the world’s efforts to ensure that President Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan is implemented as soon as possible and that no more blood is shed.”
Cooperation between the two countries will focus on the implementation of joint projects aimed at overcoming the negative consequences of the war in the healthcare sector and countering the challenges posed by russia’s full-scale invasion.
Under the terms of the agreement, the following key areas of joint work are envisaged:
- developing the capacity of the medical infrastructure, as well as restoring and modernizing Ukrainian medical facilities;
- development of horizontal medical partnerships between healthcare institutions, professional development of our medics, and introduction of the latest treatment approaches;
- technical support in implementing healthcare reforms necessary for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and compliance with European standards;
- rehabilitation and mental health, development of rehabilitation programs and joint projects in the field of prosthetics, and rehabilitation of people with severe injuries;
- cooperation in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, implementation of measures to control and prevent the spread of resistant infections;
- cooperation in the field of healthcare digitalization: development of telemedicine and digital medical services, etc.
The Minister of Health of Ukraine also emphasized the plans to create a modern Children’s Medical Rehabilitation Center in cooperation with Finnish philanthropist Anne Berner. The center will become a place where Ukrainian children affected by the war will receive physical and psychological rehabilitation assistance. The project involves the creation of a virtual hospital, a physical rehabilitation center, and a research institute to study the impact of trauma on children’s health and find the best methods of treatment. This center will be a place where telemedicine capabilities will be used to ensure that every child receives the specialized care they deserve, free of charge and regardless of where they are.
Minister Viktor Liashko expressed his gratitude to Finland and Finnish partners for such an important and unprecedented support of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war.
It should be recalled that a technical agreement in the healthcare sector was recently signed as part of the security agreement between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of Sweden. The first technical agreement was signed in April this year between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia.