• Українською
  • Ukraine and Japan to prolong cooperation in the healthcare sector - representatives of the countries discuss potential areas
    Ministry of Health of Ukraine, posted 23 January 2025 17:42

    Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Masashi Nakagome. During the meeting, the participants discussed the current state and prospects of healthcare cooperation between the two countries.

    "The war is a huge challenge for our country and its healthcare system. Every day, russia attacks our hospitals, maternity wards, outpatient clinics and kills our people. As of today, the enemy has already damaged 1,971 medical facilities and completely destroyed another 300. Today, the total losses of the medical system from the war amount to more than USD 17 billion. I am grateful to our Japanese partners for supporting our country. Japan is one of our country's most reliable and consistent partners in the fight against russia. I am confident that our cooperation will only deepen. We have many potential areas that we are ready to develop to make Ukraine's healthcare system stronger," said Health Minister Viktor Liashko.

    It should be noted that the Ministry of Health of Ukraine works closely with the Government of Japan, the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine and the JICA Office in Ukraine to support and restore the healthcare sector. In particular, thanks to effective cooperation, we have achieved the following results in the medical sector:

    ● Implementation of the Emergency Recovery Programme, which aims to develop Ukraine's infrastructure for recovery and reconstruction in such areas as healthcare, water supply, energy, transport, etc. This area of cooperation also includes support for various sectors, including healthcare, through the purchase of equipment and materials necessary for emergency recovery;

    ● supply of medical equipment (diagnostic systems, special neurosurgical microscopes, endoscopic imaging systems, etc.) - Ukrainian hospitals received the latest medical equipment worth about USD 30 million;

    ● providing humanitarian ambulances. As part of the cooperation, 20 ambulances and 5 portable ultrasound machines were donated to primary healthcare facilities in Kharkiv region. In addition, Ukrainian institutions will receive 20 primary healthcare vehicles and 10 modern endoscopes as part of the cooperation;

    ● exchange of experience and expert training for Ukrainian specialists;

    ● development of new areas of cooperation, for example, in the field of mental health, etc.

    The Minister of Health noted that the coordinated work made it possible to provide hospitals with innovative equipment and continue to improve the healthcare system despite the war.

    He also added that, given Japan's high level of expertise in technological innovation, the Ukrainian side would be interested in partnering with JICA on financing and supporting projects to rehabilitate veterans, introduce the latest technologies, and train specialists in medical rehabilitation.

    In addition, Ukraine is willing to cooperate with the pharmaceutical market and Japanese business in general.

    One more priority area of cooperation is international medical partnership. The Minister noted that it was important for the Ukrainian medical system to develop horizontal cooperation between Ukrainian and Japanese medical institutions. In this area, the objectives of the medical partnership could include the mastering of Japanese rehabilitation medical practices by Ukrainian doctors, ensuring professional interaction, joint research and innovation, and the introduction of the latest technologies.

    Health Minister Viktor Liashko expressed his gratitude to the Japanese delegation for their comprehensive support of Ukraine. The Minister noted that despite the challenges of a full-scale war, cooperation in responding to healthcare needs and restoring infrastructure would only get stronger.