Estonia and Ukraine intensify cooperation in healthcare: results of a visit of the Estonian delegation

The delegation of the Republic of Estonia, headed by the Minister of Social Affairs, Karmen Joller, paid a working visit to Ukraine and met with the Minister of Health of Ukraine, Viktor Liashko.

"The visit of the Estonian delegation to Kyiv is an important gesture of support and also a chance to plan further joint steps. During my visit to Estonia, we signed a strategic document - the Technical Agreement, which defines the key areas of bilateral cooperation in the medical field in pursuance of the security agreement concluded between our countries on June 27, 2024, in Brussels. Our joint initiatives are already working for results - from the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers to the development of digital services and partnerships between hospitals. The agreements we have reached cover the expansion of horizontal partnerships between medical institutions, educational programs for specialists, and integration into the European health data space. This partnership helps Ukrainian healthcare to be sustainable now and develop further, focusing on high European standards," said Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko.

During the meeting, the participants focused on practical steps to implement the existing agreements and identified new areas of cooperation within the framework of the Technical Agreement on Healthcare Cooperation between Ukraine and Estonia. They discussed strengthening cooperation in the field of rehabilitation, digitalization, and development of international medical partnerships, joint educational programs and exchange of experience.

One of the priorities of the Ministry of Health is to develop the healthcare rehabilitation system. Therefore, together with our Estonian partners, we are implementing training programs and internships for Ukrainian specialists, in particular in leading clinics in Tallinn, so that they can learn from the experience and share it with their colleagues in Ukraine.

Special attention was paid to expanding the MEDEVAC program, which provides Ukrainians affected by the war with free treatment in foreign medical facilities. To date, 30 Ukrainian citizens, including 28 military personnel, have received treatment in Estonian clinics.

The parties also discussed joint digitalization initiatives. Starting in 2026, Ukraine and Estonia will implement a joint project to connect Ukraine's electronic healthcare system to the MyHealth@EU network, which is part of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). This will be a step towards Ukraine's future accession to the EU's digital health space and will help improve the quality of medical services for Ukrainian citizens abroad and EU citizens in Ukraine.

Another significant area of cooperation is the development of international medical partnership, an initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, which was launched in 2023 at the First Ladies and Gentlemen Summit in Kyiv. In total, 66 memorandums have already been signed between Ukrainian and foreign medical institutions from 24 countries as part of the initiative. In particular, the East Tallinn Central Hospital signed a memorandum with the Central City Hospital of Rivne. The focus of the cooperation is rehabilitation after amputations, as well as the exchange of experience in treating combat injuries.

The Estonian partners also visited the neonatal screening laboratory of the National Specialized Children's Hospital Okhmatdyt. The parties discussed the prospects for cooperation in this area, as Ukraine is one of the leaders in this field. As of August 2025, more than 450,000 such tests have already been conducted.

The initiative was launched in October 2022 on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Since then, every newborn child in Ukraine has had access to free testing.

Since then, every newborn child in Ukraine has had access to free testing for 21 rare genetic diseases. This allows for timely detection of hereditary pathologies, early treatment, and prevention of serious complications.

Ukraine's experience in implementing systemic newborn screening is of interest to international partners, including Estonia.

They also discussed cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. In particular, Ukraine is interested in jointly implementing investment projects aimed at localizing the production of medicines, exchanging experience in the circulation of medicines and medical devices, as well as developing innovative technologies and conducting research in clinical and preventive medicine, taking into account the needs of the healthcare systems of both countries.

During their visit to Ukraine, the Estonian delegation visited the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, where they learned about the practices of complex orthopedic surgeries, the work of the rehabilitation department and the organization of care for patients with combat injuries.

This clinic specializes in the rehabilitation treatment of patients with orthopedic and traumatology profile, and its priority is early postoperative rehabilitation. The Institute's doctors perform more than 300 highly complex surgical interventions for wounded Ukrainian defenders and civilian patients every week.

As part of the exchange of experience and development of clinical skills, the delegation also visited primary health care facilities and an emergency medical center in the Kyiv region and talked to medical professionals.

During a visit to one of the medical facilities providing medical care to wounded servicemen, the delegation was presented with the full route of an amputee: from the moment of evacuation and surgery to the long stage of physical rehabilitation, prosthetics and return to social life. Participants learned about the interdisciplinary model of rehabilitation care, which includes the work of surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, prosthetists, social workers, and modern equipment used in the recovery process. This approach is crucial for restoring full activity to patients after injuries, including those affected by hostilities.

The visit of the Estonian delegation was an important step in strengthening strategic cooperation between our countries and developing a sustainable, modern and patient-oriented healthcare system in Ukraine.

As a reminder, recently, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko have met with Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia Karmen Joller in Tallinn, during which the parties signed a Technical Agreement on Healthcare Cooperation.