Viktor Liashko visited the leading Mary Elizabeth’s Hospital in Copenhagen, which receives injured Ukrainians for treatment and rehabilitation
During his working visit to Denmark, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko visited the Mary Elizabeth’s Hospital for Children, Adolescents, and Young Families (Rigshospitalet) in Copenhagen. Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, this medical facility has been accepting Ukrainian patients for treatment under the Medevac program. During the visit to the hospital, the Minister met with its CEO Rasmus Mogelvang, and familiarized himself with the work of the medical institution.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Denmark has been one of the countries that has been most active in helping Ukraine and Ukrainians. This includes numerous humanitarian aid, equipment for hospitals, restoration of medical facilities, and medical evacuation of those who have suffered. Danish medical facilities are actively accepting wounded Ukrainian defenders and civilians for treatment and rehabilitation. So far, almost 200 patients have been treated, including people with cancer and mine-blast injuries, as well as military personnel. This way, all of them can recover in peaceful conditions and return to normal life as soon as possible. We really appreciate this support from Denmark.”
It should be noted that since the beginning of the full-scale war, medical evacuations of Ukrainians to foreign clinics have been carried out almost every week. During this time, 5665 Ukrainian patients have been transported by specialized medical transport for treatment. The evacuation flights were organized thanks to the cooperation of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the European Commission with the support of WHO, European governments and numerous partners.
In particular, Denmark is one of the countries participating in the Medevac program, which accepts Ukrainian victims. Almost 200 patients were evacuated to Danish clinics, including patients with mine-blast injuries and people with cancer. The Mary Elisabeth’s Hospital for Children, Adolescents and Young Families (Rigshospitalet) admitted 52 Ukrainian patients.
The clinic continues to admit Ukrainians and is currently treating and rehabilitating Ukrainian military personnel. In addition, the hospital provides necessary treatment to Ukrainian citizens who have been granted temporary protection in Denmark.
We would like to remind you that adults and children who have been injured in shelling, have cancer or rare diseases, as well as military personnel in need of specialized care are sent abroad for treatment.
Another notable aspect of cooperation between Ukraine and Denmark is international medical partnerships that have already produced concrete results. In particular, last year, the Mary Elizabeth’s Hospital for Children, Adolescents and Young Families and the Kyiv Regional Children’s Hospital signed a memorandum of cooperation. The cooperation envisages internships for the Kyiv Children’s Hospital’s doctors in pediatric oncohematology, combustiology, and genetics.
It should be noted that not only children and adolescents, but also pregnant women receive care in the Danish hospital, which ensures a continuous monitoring process and the possibility of early detection of many problems and diseases. That is why the exchange of experience and active interaction between institutions will be an effective step towards the development of medical care during childbirth and neonatal care in complex neonatal cases.
Currently, the hospitals are working together to develop new modern areas of surgical care, namely combustiology, orthopedics and traumatology, and minimally invasive surgery. For example, Danish experts working i pediatric physical rehabilitation conduct online trainings for specialists at the Kyiv Oblast Children’s Hospital and other Ukrainian hospitals.
The international medical partnership initiative was launched last year at the Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen under the patronage of First Lady Olena Zelenska. At that time, 25 Ukrainian hospitals were twinned with hospitals in different countries to share experience and best practices. Over the year, the number of memorandums of cooperation signed under the international medical partnership initiative has doubled, reaching 57.
During the visit, the Minister also visited the Danish Dementia Research Center (DDRC), which has many years of experience in conducting clinical trials of various diseases and dementia disorders. Here, the Ukrainian delegation learned about the latest neurosurgery techniques, including smart glasses. This minimally invasive neurosurgery provides remote and minimally traumatic access to the deep parts of the brain to examine the central nervous system and treat the detected diseases. The procedure is carried out with the help of special micro-instruments, according to the coordinate system calculated by doctors.
Viktor Liashko expressed his great gratitude to Denmark and Danish medical institutions that have been hosting Ukrainians affected by the war since the beginning of the war, as well as actively cooperating with Ukrainian doctors and enabling our medics to develop and adopt best practices in treatment.
For reference: The Mary Elizabeth’s Hospital for Children, Adolescents, and Young Families is the largest hospital where children and adolescents, as well as pregnant women and families, receive care.
The medical institution is known for its cutting-edge approaches, where the child, their needs, and interests are at the center of everything. The hospital is currently undergoing renovation and modernization. In particular, in partnership, the hospital has joined forces with the Ole Kirk’ Fond to build a new state hospital that will set new standards of care for patients.