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36 health,” she says. “Mental health is becoming
one of the largest long-term challenges for Ukraine – not only for soldiers, but also for civilians, children, healthcare workers, and people who have lived under prolonged stress for years.” Partnerships and practical solutions Before the war, Ukraine had many medical professionals and strong scientific potential, but the life science ecosystem often lacked international visibility, investment, and structured cooperation with European partners. The war has changed this dramatically, according to Pavelko. “At the same time, the war has created an urgent demand for innovation – from rehabilitation and trauma care to digital health, prosthetics, infection prevention, and mental health services,” she says. U krainian healthcare providers and companies have become much more open to partnerships and practical solutions to help institutions survive and modernize. “There is also a growing understanding that rebuilding healthcare should not mean recreating old systems, but building more resilient, sustainable, and patient-centered models aligned with European standards. I also think there is increasing recognition internationally that Ukraine should not only be viewed as a recipient of support, but as a future contributor to European healthcare innovation,” adds Flanagan. A strong business case During the past two to three years, Swecare's role has often been to act as a bridge and a door-opener between the needs of the Ukrainian healthcare system and the expertise, innovation, and solutions available within the Swedish healthcare and life science sectors. “The private sector plays a central role in all our activities. We strongly believe that Ukraine is not a charity case, but a strong long-term business case,” says Pavelko. She and her colleagues work with hospitals, public authorities, NGOs, companies, and international partners. The needs are also very diverse, ranging from rehabilitation and cancer care to primary healthcare in rural areas, hospital management, infection prevention, and digitalization. Knowledge transfer One important area of Pavelko’s and Flanagan’s work has been facilitating professional exchange and knowledge transfer. “Many Ukrainian healthcare leaders are managing institutions under extremely difficult wartime conditions while also trying to continue healthcare reform and prepare for EU integration. There is a strong need not only for equipment, but also for modern management knowledge and sustainable operating models. Together with various partners, we are working hard to help make this vision for Ukraine a reality,” says Flanagan. O ne good example is a collaboration in cancer care. Swecare coordinates a large educational project in radiation oncology in Ukraine, running over two years in close collaboration with two international educational partners, Rayos Contra Cancer and Help Ukraine Group. “By providing both online and onsite training in Ukraine, we have reached more than 500 professionals who are now working with modern Elekta linear accelerators. This education was critical not only because of knowledge gaps related to operating the equipment itself but also because of broader gaps in radiation oncology practices and modern treatment approaches.” As this article goes to print, two Ukrainian teams consisting of radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiotherapy technicians are participating in observerships at Södersjukhuset and Akademiska University Hospital. “This and many other collaborative projects initiated or supported by Swecare are valuable because they create longterm professional relationships and institutional trust between our countries,” says Flanagan. The next phase and equal partnerships At the end of last year, Sweden and Ukraine deepened their cooperation within healthcare at a conference on Swedish support for the reconstruction and development of healthcare in Ukraine organized jointly by Swecare and the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. “I believe the next phase will be more strategic, longterm, and system-oriented. The initial years after the fullscale invasion were understandably focused on emergency response and urgent support. Now we increasingly hear discussions about sustainable rebuilding, institutional partnerships, healthcare modernization, alignment with European standards, and crisis and war preparedness. Our Ukrainian connections are invaluable in this context,” says Flanagan, and adds that several priorities are becoming particularly important: “One is rehabilitation and long-term recovery. Another is healthcare leadership and management capacity. This is an area where Swedish experience can be highly valuable.” “We also see growing interest in sustainable healthcare infrastructure where Swedish healthcare has strong expertise,” says Pavelko. “Digital health and healthcare innovation will likely become another major area of cooperation, especially as Ukraine continues its rapid digital transformation.” UKRAINE // HEALTHCARE