As the war continues to place extraordinary pressure on Ukraine’s health system, the partnership between the European Union (EU) and WHO is helping ensure that essential health services are available, while the health system is strengthened to face future challenges.
Through the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST)–WHO project, emergency solutions and long-term reforms are supporting resilience, recovery and equitable access to care for millions of Ukrainians.
With repeated attacks on critical energy infrastructure and increased health needs – particularly in frontline and war-affected areas – the project focuses on hospitals, strengthening primary health care, improving access to medicines and addressing priority public health challenges.
“With the support of the European Union through DG ENEST, WHO is helping to address immediate risks while supporting reforms and long-term needs that are essential to keep health services functioning and accessible for people who need them the most,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
Keeping hospitals running through winter
Ensuring continuity of care during challenging winter conditions is a key priority. WHO has installed 6 modular heating units in hospitals across Zaporizhzhia and Chernivtsi regions, allowing facilities to operate independently from centralized municipal heating systems. Designed to function autonomously during power outages, the units have protected patients, health workers and critical medical equipment during prolonged disruptions, enabling hospitals to continue providing care throughout winter.
Access to safe water – essential for infection prevention and quality care – was also improved. WHO has installed 5 advanced water treatment stations in major hospitals in Kharkiv city and across Kharkiv region. Each station performs multiple stages of purification, ensuring reliable, high-quality water for operating theatres, maternity wards and intensive care units.
In parallel, WHO has delivered essential medicines, trauma supplies and emergency medical equipment to frontline health facilities, addressing urgent needs caused by ongoing hostilities.
Strengthening health financing and primary health care
Beyond emergency response, the DG ENEST–WHO project is supporting long-term health system strengthening, with a focus on health financing, governance and primary health care.
WHO is helping formalize governance processes, improve budget planning and strengthen primary health care – particularly in rural areas and regions that are hard hit by the war. Support to the Programme of Medical Guarantees has advanced Ukraine’s alignment with EU principles of transparency, accountability and good public governance.
Working closely with the Government of Ukraine, WHO assessed primary health care costs and supported revisions to the financing model to better reflect patient needs and available resources during wartime. As a result, payments increased in 2025, funding for mental health services at the primary health care level expanded, and additional support was introduced for rural and frontline areas, improving access to care for more than 5 million people.
WHO’s technical assistance also directly informed the Programme of Medical Guarantees for 2026, which resulted in a 19% increase in the capitation rate for this year, reinforcing provider funding and sustaining prioritization of primary care despite the challenges of war.
Improving access to essential medicines
The partnership is also strengthening access to medicines by aligning national standards with WHO and EU regulations, improving procurement systems and laying the groundwork for sustainable local production.
Initiatives include strengthening reimbursement for essential medicines, improving supply chain management and quality assurance, and expanding professional training. Targeted communication campaigns support displaced people, residents of newly affected regions and older adults in rural areas to navigate access to the national reimbursement Affordable Medicines Programme – helping ensure uninterrupted treatment.
To support evidence-based decision-making, WHO developed a budget impact model integrating pharmaceutical market data and patient use patterns, enabling more effective resource allocation and fair access to treatment.
Addressing noncommunicable diseases
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remain a growing challenge in Ukraine, further exacerbated by war-related disruptions to care.
Through the DG ENEST partnership, WHO is supporting national authorities to strengthen prevention, early detection and treatment – supported by updated clinical guidelines, surveillance systems and public awareness initiatives.
In 2025, a pilot cervical cancer screening programme was launched in Cherkasy region to implement new national guidelines. Health professionals were trained in early diagnosis and prevention, while communities assessed readiness for future nationwide rollout. A needs assessment also identified strengths and gaps in cancer care and outlined priority next steps to improve services.
Reducing NCD risk factors
Arterial hypertension remains one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Ukraine. According to WHO, 1 in 3 Ukrainians has elevated blood pressure.
Together with the Ministry of Health, WHO supported a revision of national clinical guidelines on hypertension management, and organized training, webinars and educational activities for primary health care professionals. A nationwide information campaign emphasized that measuring blood pressure is simple – and controlling it saves lives. Through a series of webinars, WHO reached more than 1700 family doctors nationwide.
WHO also continues to support multisectoral policies to reduce NCD risk factors, including alcohol control, elimination of industrially produced trans fats, strengthened tobacco taxation, and reforms to healthy school meals, supported by the “Five Steps to Healthy Nutrition” initiative.
Preparedness, surveillance and antimicrobial resistance
To protect Ukraine against future health threats, WHO is strengthening disease surveillance and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) control. Through the introduction of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources system and national AMR surveys, early warning and outbreak response capacities have been strengthened.
By operationalizing the One Health approach, the project is contributing to implementation of the National AMR Action Plan, establishment of integrated surveillance, and nationwide awareness campaigns.
Within the DG ENEST partnership, WHO will continue supporting the Ukrainian national health-care system throughout 2026.