Ukraine and the Netherlands discussed the development of cooperation in the healthcare sector

The Minister of Health of Ukraine, Viktor Liashko, met with a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, led by Aukje de Vries, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development. Representatives from private sector entities in the Netherlands and partner institutions also participated in the meeting.

The parties discussed further development of cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands in the healthcare sector, particularly support for the medical system during wartime, as well as opportunities to involve Dutch businesses in projects aimed at the recovery and development of Ukraine’s medical infrastructure.

The Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko, expressed his appreciation for the Netherlands’ consistent support of Ukraine and emphasized the importance of further developing the partnership between the two countries.

During the discussion, the parties also focused on the challenges faced by Ukraine’s healthcare system during the war, in particular, the impact of damage to energy infrastructure and the need to ensure the uninterrupted operation of medical facilities.

According to the minister, the full-scale war had resulted in significant damage to Ukraine's medical infrastructure: 2,551 healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed, including 327 that have been completely destroyed. The estimated cost of restoring the medical infrastructure over the next decade is nearly USD 17 billion.

In parallel with humanitarian response efforts, Ukraine is already undertaking the recovery and reconstruction of healthcare facilities, strengthening their resilience and safety. Financial support, engineering and architectural expertise, and long-term partnerships with the international community remain essential to this process.

The discussions also addressed the development of specific areas, particularly blood safety and the strengthening of the resilience of critical medical services, as well as opportunities to utilize the Ukraine Facility as a mechanism for further support and to engage Dutch partners in healthcare projects.

The parties confirmed their readiness to continue developing joint projects and to expand their cooperation.

Cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands has been ongoing for a long time and has already delivered tangible results. In particular, the Netherlands is a participating partner in Ukraine's MEDEVAC medical evacuation program, through which more than 461 Ukrainian citizens had been evacuated to the Netherlands as of January 2026. 

International medical partnerships remain a key area of cooperation. A notable example is the developing collaboration between the Western Ukrainian Specialized Children's Medical Center and the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in the Netherlands. Through this partnership, 95 Ukrainian children have already received treatment, and Ukrainian doctors have had the opportunity to participate in training sessions and exchange programs.

Cooperation is also advancing in the field of mental health, particularly through collaboration between the ARQ National Center for Psychotrauma and the Lisova Poliana Mental Health and Rehabilitation Centre.

In addition, Ukraine and the Netherlands collaborate on the development of rehabilitation services. As part of the NL4Superhumans project, Ukrainian multidisciplinary teams receive specialized training in modern rehabilitation methods. This initiative is supported by Dutch foundations and implemented under the Ukraine Partnership Facility program.