Ministry of Health of Ukraine and WHO discuss strategic priorities for humanitarian response in 2026
Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko held a meeting with representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe and the WHO Office in Ukraine. During the discussion, the parties focused on identifying humanitarian aid priorities for 2026 and aligning them with the current challenges and needs of the Ukrainian healthcare system.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Ministers Ihor Kuzin, Maria Karchevych, Ihor Kopach, Edem Adamanov, and Yevhen Gonchar, as well as WHO representatives, including Director of Emergency Health Interventions, Altaf Musani, Regional Emergency Director for WHO/Europe, Ihor Perehinets, Programme Managers, Emanuele Bruni and Angkana Santhiprechachit, WHO Representative in Ukraine Jarno Habicht, and other experts.
The parties focused on defining strategic priorities for 2026. In particular, this involves ensuring equal access to healthcare services for all citizens, as well as strengthening coordination between different areas of public policy (healthcare, education, social protection, infrastructure, etc.). This approach will create conditions for the sustainable development of the healthcare system and increase its resilience to external challenges in the context of war and post-war recovery.
Among the practical areas of cooperation, the parties separately considered the preparation of the medical system for work in winter conditions: ensuring uninterrupted access to water, heat, and medical services in the event of attacks on energy infrastructure, as well as creating reserves of hygiene products, warm clothing, and basic supplies for IDPs, which can be stored in hospitals.
In particular, the World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, is already implementing a project to install modular boiler rooms in hospitals. Such boiler rooms serve as alternative heating systems for the entire hospital. During 2024-2025, 20 modular boiler rooms have already been installed, with 4 in the final stages. The project to install other boiler rooms is continuing.
An important area of cooperation is the preparation of a new two-year agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the WHO Regional Office for Europe for 2026-2027. The document provides for joint planning of actions in the areas of emergency response, public health, system resilience, rehabilitation, and digital transformation.
During the meeting, the Minister of Health also thanked the WHO for its long-standing support for Ukrainians and its significant contribution to strengthening the health system. Viktor Liashko stressed that maintaining this level of support from international partners remains critical to ensuring the sustainable functioning of the medical system in the context of the ongoing war.
“The partnership with WHO has been one of the key factors behind the resilience of Ukrainian healthcare, both during the pandemic and during the war. Working together has helped adapt the system to new challenges. We continue to strengthen this cooperation so that even in the most difficult conditions, Ukrainians have guaranteed access to medical services and the state can ensure the continuity of the medical system," said Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko.
In close cooperation with the Ministry of Health, WHO provides Ukrainian hospitals with necessary medical supplies and equipment, trains medical professionals, organizes the evacuation of patients abroad, supplies ambulances, deploys mobile medical points, and supports vaccination of the population.
Background information
In total, between 2022 and 2025, the World Health Organization has allocated more than USD 346 million to humanitarian response measures.
As a reminder, 30,000 doses of rabies vaccine were recently delivered to regions across the country as part of cooperation between the Ministry of Health and WHO.