Ukraine strengthens international health partnerships: highlights from day one of the 78th World Health Assembly
The 78th World Health Assembly has officially begun in Geneva. On the opening day, Viktor Liashko, the Minister of Health of Ukraine, participated in a series of international events and signed two international memoranda of cooperation in the field of healthcare.
During the event, Orest Stepaniak, the head of Ukraine’s School Nutrition Reform Team, outlined the progress of the comprehensive reform launched in 2020 under the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska at the global event “Shaping the Future of School Nutrition: Ukraine’s Reform Experience, Global Policies, and Commitments.” The event, organized by the Permanent Missions of Ukraine, France, and Japan in Geneva, together with UNICEF and the Rockefeller Foundation, brought together political leaders, experts, and international partners.
Continuing the discussion, the Minister of Health emphasized that Ukraine’s School Nutrition Reform encompasses the update of nutrition standards, infrastructure modernization, the establishment of culinary hubs, and the adoption of contemporary food catering models. The overarching goal is to reduce noncommunicable disease rates, foster healthy lifestyle habits, and guarantee equal access to quality nutrition for all children.
“School meals are not just about food—they are about health and the future of the country. More than 80% of premature deaths in Ukraine are caused by noncommunicable diseases. Encouraging healthy behaviors in childhood is one of the most effective ways to address this challenge. We have updated our nutrition standards in line with WHO recommendations, introduced quality monitoring, and, together with our partners, ensured access to hot meals for many children—particularly those whose lives have been disrupted by the war. Despite the challenges of wartime, the reform has continued uninterrupted. Today, Ukraine is not only advancing change domestically but also helping lead the global conversation”
In a significant step towards global collaboration, Ukraine joined the Global School Meals Coalition in 2023 and hosted the European Regional Summit in 2024, gathering 500 delegates from 20 countries. While in Geneva, the Ukrainian delegation called on the international community to support the integration of quality nutrition into national strategies for recovery, education, and healthcare.
After the event, a bilateral meeting was held between Ukraine’s Minister of Health Viktor Liashko and the Minister of Health of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Memişoğlu. Following the meeting, the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Health of Ukraine and Turkey. The document outlines multi-level cooperation in the areas of public health, pharmaceuticals, medical education, digital solutions, medical technologies, and emergency response.
“Partnership with Turkey opens new opportunities for the development of the Ukrainian healthcare sector. We are interested in joint solutions that work both during wartime and in the process of recovery. This includes cutting-edge medical innovations, investments in science and human resources, expertise exchange, and educational initiatives. Today, we are laying the foundation for many future projects that will strengthen our healthcare system. We are also anticipating a dedicated mission from Turkish businesses—and we are already working to ensure these opportunities transform into real changes for Ukrainian hospitals and patients”
Ukraine and Turkey have substantial potential to expand their cooperation in the healthcare sector. Promising areas include the development of rehabilitation services, attracting private investments to modernize Ukraine’s healthcare sector through public-private partnerships, fostering institutional collaboration between Ukrainian and Turkish healthcare institutions, and advancing the exchange of expertise through training programs for Ukrainian healthcare professionals in Turkey, alongside the implementation of joint research projects.
Further strengthening international cooperation, Minister Viktor Liashko held a series of meetings with his counterparts from the United Kingdom, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Libya, and Germany. Discussions focused on the preparation of technical cooperation agreements within the framework of security arrangements and the implementation of those already in place, the development of horizontal partnerships between healthcare institutions, and efforts to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine’s healthcare system.