Key health and medical care actors gathered at conference on support to Ukraine

Minister for Health and Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed and Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson co-hosted the conference, where over 100 representatives of government agencies, the business sector, civil society, hospitals and academia, and European and international actors such as the European Commission, the World Health Organisation and the World Bank gathered. Minister of Healthcare of Ukraine Viktor Liashko also attended.

Long-term memorandum of understanding between Sweden and Ukraine

During the conference, the three ministers signed a memorandum of understanding between Sweden and Ukraine. The memorandum will create conditions for long-term cooperation, experience exchange and knowledge transfer between the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in areas such as pharmaceutical products, antimicrobial resistance, mental health, rehabilitation, cancer care, and skills supply in health and medical care.

“It’s a great honour and pleasure to have Viktor Liashko here in Stockholm to take part in the conference and sign the memorandum of understanding. This shows Ukraine’s great interest in developing our cooperation and benefitting from Sweden’s expertise in the area of health and medical care,” says Ms Johansson.

Immense needs in Ukraine due to Russia’s full-scale invasion

Since Russia launched an unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the need for trauma care, rehabilitation and mental health initiatives has been immense. Efforts are also needed to combat the emergence and spread of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

“The full-scale invasion has aggravated the problem of antimicrobial resistance and brings new challenges. It’s good that this was highlighted during the conference, considering the importance of the issue for Sweden, Ukraine and globally. Cross-border cooperation is needed to address this major health threat,” says Mr Forssmed.

The agenda included the Swedish Government’s Strategy for reconstruction and reform cooperation with Ukraine and examples of ongoing efforts in the health and medical care sector. Participants also discussed ways forward for Swedish actors to be able to support Ukraine’s efforts for better health care, with a focus on reforms that create a resilient and modern health care system. This work was already under way before the war.

Sweden’s support to Ukraine is long-term

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has increased its humanitarian and military support to Ukraine on several occasions, and is also providing economic support, civilian crisis management, and support to Ukraine’s reform efforts and reconstruction. Sweden’s support to Ukraine stands firm and must meet critical needs in both the short and long term.

Sweden’s military, economic and humanitarian assistance totals over SEK 28 million since the war began. During the second half of 2023, Sweden has donated health care products, which are provided through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, RescEU. Through participation in the Medivac EU mechanism, Sweden has also offered hospital beds to Ukrainian patients.