The Ministry of Health of Ukraine together with the World Bank are launching a new project on restoration of the healthcare system – Health Enhancement And Lifesaving (HEAL) Ukraine Project.

On December 23, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko and World Bank Country Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Arup Banerji signed a loan agreement for EUR 100 million and a non-repayable grant agreement for USD 10 million from the Global Financing Facility. These funds will provide for initial financing of the project with a total value of USD 500 million.

Currently, with the support of the World Bank, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine continues to implement two major projects in the healthcare sector. In particular, Serving People, Improving Health Project and Ukraine Emergency COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Project. The total amount of the World Bank loan for these projects is USD 681.1 million.

“Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Ministry of Health and the World Bank continue to actively cooperate in the healthcare sector. Thanks to the strong support of the World Bank, the Ministry was able to ensure Ukraine’s capacity to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. And now we have a reliable partner who helps to maintain the healthcare system in Ukraine’s fight against russian aggression. And we are extremely grateful for such active support and assistance,” said Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko. “Our cooperation continues within a new project that can meet urgent needs in healthcare services, as well as restore the healthcare system, taking into account the wartime and post-war challenges.”

The project will include measures to address new and urgent needs in the field of mental health and rehabilitation. In particular, activities aimed at implementing effective rehabilitation and mental health services will be financed. This will allow to better respond to the current crisis situation and create better platforms for the provision of services in the future.

The project envisages procurement of necessary rehabilitation equipment and vehicles for mobile multidisciplinary mental health teams; restoration works in institutions providing mental health and rehabilitation services; training of health care workers at primary and specialized levels.

The HEAL project plan includes measures to restore and support primary healthcare facilities and hospitals. First of all, it concerns restoration of damaged and destroyed buildings and premises of medical institutions.

Another important area of the project is to support digitalization and innovation in the medical sector. In particular, development of e-health and digital technologies that allow not only to improve efficiency, transparency and control of service provision, but also to make them more convenient for patients.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine expresses its gratitude to the World Bank team for supporting the healthcare sector of Ukraine and for the high appreciation of the work of the Ministry of Health team. Cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the World Bank is an important step towards strengthening Ukraine on the way to victory over the russian aggressor.