Ukraine and Latvia sign technical agreement on healthcare as part of security agreement between the countries
During a working visit to Kyiv, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko and Minister of Health of the Republic of Latvia Hosama Abu Meri signed a technical agreement to strengthen and develop bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector. The technical agreement is aimed at implementing the agreement between the countries on long-term support and security commitments, developing cooperation, and creating a framework for cooperation and interaction in the healthcare sector.
"Latvia is the first country with which we are officially signing a technical agreement on cooperation in the healthcare sector to implement the security agreement concluded between our countries on 11 April 2024 during the visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs to Vilnius for the Three Seas Summit. The Ukrainian formula for peace initiated by the President of Ukraine is the way to end the war and restore a just peace in Ukraine. We are working to unite the international community, for which security, health and life are the highest values, to make Ukraine's voice in the world even stronger,’ said Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine. - ‘Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Latvia has been actively helping the Ukrainian healthcare system to survive: numerous humanitarian aid, acceptance of injured Ukrainians for medical evacuation and rehabilitation, clear support for Ukrainian initiatives in the international arena - all this is extremely important for us and we are extremely grateful for it. Today we have once again seen that Latvia is a reliable partner and friend of Ukraine in the international arena."
The signing of the technical agreement will facilitate the implementation of initiatives and innovative solutions in the medical and public health sectors. The agreement also provides for cooperation in protecting human life and health, as well as overcoming the consequences of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
Under the terms of the agreement, the main areas of cooperation are as follows
- restoration of medical infrastructure as a factor in ensuring national security at the current stage and in the long term;
- development of the capacity to protect medical infrastructure;
- cooperation in the field of public health and prevention, stabilisation and restoration of the healthcare system, in particular in Chernihiv region and the city of Chernihiv;
- implementing rehabilitation and treatment programmes for Ukrainian servicemen in medical and rehabilitation institutions in Latvia, strengthening the rehabilitation sector of Ukraine, and enhancing cooperation within the MEDEVAC programme;
- strengthening horizontal medical partnerships between healthcare institutions;
- promoting Ukraine's integration into the EU healthcare sector, including the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to the EU regulatory framework, etc.
In addition, the agreement provides for the exchange of information and experience, experts and delegations, capacity building of medical personnel, facilitation of experts' participation in conferences and events held in the Republic of Latvia and Ukraine, etc.
It should be noted that the signing of the technical agreement will strengthen cooperation and partnership between Ukraine and Latvia in the field of healthcare, development of medical education and interaction between healthcare institutions.