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Ukrainian Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko, makes his first official visit to WHO/Europe headquartersCopenhagen, 1 May 2023

WHO and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine underscored their long-running partnership amid the ongoing war in addressing essential health needs and strengthening the countrys health systems for the future during a wide-ranging, day-long dialogue in Copenhagen today, as Health Minister, Viktor Liashko, made his first official visit to the headquarters of WHO/Europe.

Accompanied by Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister, Serhii Dubrov, and Ukraines Ambassador to Denmark, Mykhailo Vydoinyk, Minister Liashko met with the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, and the WHO/Europe leadership team, as well as the WHO Representative in Ukraine, Dr Jarno Habicht, to discuss the impacts of the war including on health services and delivery, the health and care workforce, and health infrastructure along with how Ukraines health reforms are charting a blueprint for the years ahead.

As I have seen for myself on 4 visits to Ukraine since the beginning of 2022, the war has caused significant suffering to the people of Ukraine, damaging health systems and infrastructure, disrupting access to health services and medicines for the entire population and, in particular, the most vulnerable, noted Dr Kluge. Yet, as I have observed before, the health system has also remained remarkably resilient. Together with the Ministry of Health, and our hundreds of health partners on the ground nationwide, including hard-to-reach and regained areas, we will continue to help maintain health services, supporting the delivery of essential supplies, vaccines and medicines where they are most urgently needed.

Complementing Dr Kluges remarks, Dr Habicht added, While WHO has been providing continuous support in Ukraine by delivering lifesaving health supplies and bringing vital care to people even as the war rages on, we also pledge to support Ukraines ambitious, yet realistic, health reforms packaged under the countrys Health Strategy 2030 laying the foundation for health sector recovery well into the future.

WHO/Ukraine has a significant presence on the ground, and their teams provide expertise and support across diverse programmes and issues, from rehabilitation and mental health to immunization, HIV, TB and noncommunicable diseases, said Minister Liashko. We embarked on our health reforms even before war erupted last year, and we are truly grateful for WHOs support as we seek to make our vision a reality strengthening quality, making services accessible, and ensuring affordability under universal health coverage.

Discussions with various WHO/Europe programme directors also included primary health care in Ukraine during and after the war, work in the area of health financing, the importance of tracking and responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases, and peoples growing health needs and priorities encompassing chronic diseases, the necessity of strengthening mental health and psychosocial support services, and the importance of rehabilitation for Ukrainian patients and provision of assistive technologies. As well, there is a need to nurture and support the countrys exhausted health and care workforce, including through the introduction and implementation of innovative digital health approaches that help reach and monitor patients in remote areas.

Ive long awaited Minister Liashkos visit to WHO/Europe, said Dr Kluge. Im truly grateful he accepted the invitation we extended, most recently during my latest visit to Ukraine in February of this year. I commend his leadership for over 2 years now, both amid the challenge of COVID-19 and then the full-scale war over the past 14 months. I hope to visit Ukraine again later this year, in keeping with my pledge to regularly witness for myself the crucial, inspiring work health authorities and our WHO teams are doing despite the circumstances.

See the rest here:
Focusing on the state of health in Ukraine with an eye to the future - World Health Organization