"Our goal is to apply best international practices in the process of creation high-quality medical assistance in the rural areas. The experience of international partners in the introduction of telemedicine and its network, the development of equipment and software requirements, and the training of family doctors are the promising areas of cooperation enshrined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Regional Development, Building and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine, the World Bank and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada", Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine said in a statement, while commenting on the signing of the Memorandum.

According to him, today, 30% of the population living in rural areas needs to have access to high-quality medical assistance. The Ministry of Regional Development in partnership with the Ministry of Healthcare has already shaped methods for the formation of the medical network, requirements for the premises and their numbers, where the primary care will be provided and the blueprint for the establishment of a network on the ground.

"Best practice of the partner countries is another step towards the introduction of modern and high-quality health care in the countryside. Both the World Bank and the Government of Canada stand ready to help us in this direction. By the end of the year, we plan to launch first examples of new medical care in the regions", the Vice Prime Minister emphasized.

Hennadii Zubko stressed the signed Memorandum will facilitate the establishment of procedures and communication platform for doctors, the system of interaction between patient and doctor, development of approaches for family doctors trainings.

The Vice Prime Minister thanked the Government of Canada and the World Bank for the assistance in the implementation of the medical reform and the sectoral decentralization.