Ukraine and China discuss deepening healthcare cooperation

The fifth meeting of the Subcommission on Cooperation in Medicine of the Commission on Cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the People’s Republic of China was held.

The event was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Yevhenii Honchar and Deputy Head of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China Zheng Zhe. Representatives of the relevant departments of both countries also took part.

The parties discussed further cooperation in physical and psychological rehabilitation, medical education and research, the training of healthcare professionals, and the exchange of medical technologies.

“Ukraine highly values China’s long-standing support and its willingness to deepen cooperation. We see significant potential for developing our partnership in rehabilitation, the training of healthcare professionals, technology exchange, and joint scientific research. It is also extremely important to us that this cooperation translates into concrete projects delivering practical benefits for both countries,” said Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Yevhenii Honchar.

In this context, particular attention was paid to the development of rehabilitation services. The Chinese side expressed readiness to share its experience in training specialists, expanding the network of rehabilitation facilities, improving the quality of care, and developing community-based rehabilitation. This experience is especially important for Ukraine given the rapidly growing need for physical and psychological rehabilitation caused by the full-scale war.

The parties also discussed the development of international medical partnerships between hospitals, universities, and research institutions in Ukraine and China. Such cooperation may include internships, professional and academic exchanges, joint research, and conferences. Opportunities to establish direct cooperation between relevant institutions in the two countries are currently being explored.

During the meeting, the participants also discussed the possibility of concluding an updated framework memorandum of cooperation in healthcare. Work in this area is already underway: the Ministry of Health of Ukraine has drafted the document and submitted it to the Chinese side for consideration. The memorandum is expected to set out priority areas of cooperation and provide a basis for implementing concrete joint projects.

Importantly, healthcare cooperation between Ukraine and China is already well-established and systematic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China provided Ukraine with medical equipment, test kits, personal protective equipment, and other essential medical supplies. Ukrainian regions also received emergency medical vehicles and related equipment.

This cooperation is based on the Agreement on Cooperation in Healthcare and Medical Science, signed by Ukraine and China in 1992. The agreement provides for the exchange of experience, the implementation of joint initiatives, and the development of professional contacts in healthcare.

As a reminder, the next meeting of the Subcommission was discussed during a recent meeting at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine Ma Shengkun and representatives of the Chinese Embassy.

Recently, on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko met with the Head of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. The parties discussed practical steps to deepen healthcare cooperation.