Ukraine and Lithuania intensify cooperation in the medical sphere - potential areas discussed
Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko held a working meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to Ukraine Inga Stanytė-Tolockienė. The parties discussed the prospects for cooperation and current needs in the healthcare sector and the restoration of medical infrastructure.
Viktor Liashko noted that Ukraine highly appreciates cooperation with Lithuania in the healthcare sector.
“Since the first days of the full-scale war, Lithuania has been actively helping and supporting Ukraine in the international arena. And Ukraine is sincerely grateful for this, because the solidarity of the democratic world and effectively established cooperation is what allows our country to continue its struggle and the medical system to work and develop even in the face of unprecedented challenges. Lithuania’s contribution and assistance is invaluable: it includes numerous humanitarian aid, active participation in the development of a network of rehabilitation centers, the development of direct cooperation between medical institutions of our countries within the framework of the international medical partnership initiative, and assistance in the treatment of injured Ukrainian military and civilians in Lithuanian medical institutions. I am confident that our cooperation will continue and become even stronger.”
The meeting focused, in particular, on promising areas of cooperation, primarily in the following areas:
- technical support for the European integration movement in the healthcare sector. The work includes providing consultations, organizing educational events, and assisting in the creation of a single regulatory body in Ukraine to control the quality of medicines and medical devices. This allows Ukraine to ensure compliance with European standards and guarantee high-quality medical care for its citizens;
- development of horizontal cooperation between medical institutions. This includes the exchange of experience between doctors and medical specialists through internships, working visits and joint operations, as well as the organization of seminars and trainings with leading experts. Such cooperation will help improve the skills of our medics and introduce the latest treatment approaches;
- creating conditions for the physical and psychological recovery of Ukrainian citizens affected by military aggression;
- development of joint projects in the field of prosthetics and rehabilitation of people with severe injuries, including the introduction of bionic prostheses and other modern technologies. Cooperation with the Republic of Lithuania in this area will allow the Ukrainian medical system to significantly improve the quality of life of victims and help them return to active life;
- restoring medical infrastructure is a priority task. The experience of Lithuanian partners and their expertise in the reconstruction and modernization of hospitals can be useful for Ukraine as well.
The Minister of Health of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to the Lithuanian partners for the meeting and discussion of priority areas of development for the Ukrainian healthcare sector. He also noted that Ukraine is open to new healthcare initiatives that can be jointly developed and implemented for the benefit of both countries. Such cooperation will help not only to overcome current challenges but also to develop innovative solutions that will make the healthcare system even more sustainable and efficient.
It should be recalled that in October, Ukraine and Lithuania signed a Technical Agreement on strengthening and developing bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector. The technical agreement is aimed at implementing the agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and Lithuania. It also defines common goals, including the integration of the Ukrainian medical system into the European Union standards, the development of horizontal cooperation between hospitals in our countries, the fight against antimicrobial resistance, and the strengthening of the healthcare system in Ukraine.