Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Edem Adamanov made a working visit to France to expand cooperation and discuss the implementation of joint initiatives in the healthcare sector. As part of the trip, he also participated in the International Hospital Cooperation Days — an annual event dedicated to discussing global challenges in medicine and exchanging experiences between healthcare systems, held in Paris. During the opening of the second day of the conference, Edem Adamanov delivered a speech highlighting the crucial role of international cooperation in supporting and restoring Ukraine’s medical system under conditions of war. He emphasized that such collaboration is critically necessary for Ukraine.
‘For Ukraine, international cooperation is an essential tool for survival and development. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, over 2,500 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Despite this, Ukrainian doctors continue to save lives daily, often working under extreme danger. In this context, international support is extremely important, as it not only ensures the continuous functioning of the system under difficult conditions but also allows its development in line with modern challenges and needs,’ said Edem Adamanov.
He also highlighted the International Medical Partnership initiative, launched in 2023 with the support of Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska.
‘Within this partnership initiative, direct links have already been established between Ukrainian and foreign hospitals, training exchanges and consultations on complex clinical cases have been organized. As a result, 45 Ukrainian oncologists have already completed internships at leading medical institutions in France,’ Adamanov noted.
The report cited the example of a patient from Kyiv, who was able to receive personalized therapy for a complex diagnosis thanks to a joint consortium of Ukrainian and French oncologists. The successful treatment was made possible through international medical partnerships aimed at sharing practical experience within this cooperation.
In addition to attending the conference, the Deputy Minister visited the headquarters of the French Development Agency (Agence française de développement, AFD). During the meeting, both sides outlined further areas of bilateral cooperation in healthcare.
The final stage of the working visit included a trip to the Gustave Roussy Oncology Center — one of Europe’s leading pediatric oncology facilities, which recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with the National Cancer Institute of Ukraine.
During the visit, particular attention was paid to innovative approaches in treating children with cancer: the clinic develops and produces specialized pediatric forms of chemotherapy drugs. For the youngest patients, bitter tablets are transformed using 3D printing into candy-shaped forms with a pleasant taste, significantly easing the treatment process and reducing the child’s emotional burden.
Gustave Roussy also has modern technical infrastructure, including its own biological laboratories, and is actively engaged in research in pediatric oncology, making it an important partner for Ukrainian oncology institutions.
The visit to France was a logical continuation of the consistent cooperation between Ukraine and French partners in the healthcare sector. In turn, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine continues active work on developing international partnerships to improve the quality of medical services, implement modern solutions, and strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system under wartime conditions.
Background:
The International Hospital Cooperation Days event is organized by Expertise France in cooperation with the Agence française de développement (AFD). The conference serves as an annual platform for discussing global healthcare challenges and finding joint solutions through international cooperation. This year’s theme was ‘Pushing the Boundaries of Health: The Role and Impact of International Hospital Cooperation
