European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides and Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko have visited health facilities in Lviv and signed the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on Ukraine’s Participation in the EU4Health Programme, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“Today we have made another milestone event for Ukraine – we have signed the EU4Health Agreement, allowing Ukraine’s healthcare system to integrate into the European space. Through our work and commitment, we have shown that we are Europeans and have European values. Today, Europe has once again shown that they consider us a family,” Liashko told.
In his words, Ukraine will use this opportunity to develop its health facilities, namely to ensure the further development of transplantation, implement innovations, scientific developments, investments in drug production and prosthetics, as well as to establish new reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation centers intended to help those who were affected by the Russian armed aggression.
According to Kyriakides, this agreement is another step to deepen partnership between the EU and Ukraine.
Since the Russian invasion started, 800 Ukrainian patients have received treatment as part of the European Solidarity package. Three medical hubs are under development in the neighboring countries, so that more patients could be evacuated to undergo treatment in Europe.
Kyriakides noted that funds are already being allocated to provide psychological support services to Ukrainians affected by the Russian armed aggression, and the EU is planning to continue such assistance in the future.
The EU4Health Agreement was signed in the First Territorial Medical Association of Lviv, on the base of which the National Rehabilitation Center ‘Unbreakable’ is expected to be created. In addition, Liashko and Kyriakides visited Lviv Regional Clinical Perinatal Center and Western Ukrainian Specialized Children’s Medical Centre.