Technical cooperation agreement on health signed with Ukraine
12-13 November Minister of Health Aurimas Pečkauskas and Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko signed a technical cooperation agreement. The agreement aims to deepen the cooperation between the two countries in the field of health care, enhancing preparedness and resilience to potential threats in this area. The technical agreement enters into force immediately after signature.
"Lithuania has consistently provided support to Ukraine, contributing to the provision of quality and accessible health services to a country suffering from war. With the signing of the agreement, cooperation will only deepen - not only at the state level, but also between medical and educational institutions in both countries. I believe that the experience of both countries will enrich the experience of each other and will lead to better public health and medical services for patients," said Mr Pečkauskas.
The agreement provides for cooperation through knowledge sharing, such as joint training, exchange of experts, seminars and projects to improve the management of health-related crises.
The countries will work together to identify sources of funding to protect healthcare infrastructure and build resilience. They will also cooperate on public health and prevention, stabilisation and the provision of coordinated humanitarian medical assistance.
Attention will be paid to the implementation of rehabilitation and treatment programmes for Ukrainian servicemen in medical and rehabilitation facilities in Lithuania and to the strengthening of the rehabilitation sector in Ukraine.
It will strengthen cooperation between the two countries to ensure access to medical services, develop human resources in the healthcare system and improve responses to disasters, hazards, conflicts and other global challenges.
The countries jointly plan to strengthen resilience to threats by training personnel to respond to all types of threats, developing databases on threats and vulnerabilities in the health sector, and managing risks in the area of critical infrastructure protection.
Cooperation will be promoted in the modernisation and digitalisation of the health system, in the management, planning and organisation of health services.
Promoting training, education and exchange of experience among health professionals in cooperation with universities and health care providers.
Lithuania is also ready to contribute to facilitating Ukraine's integration into the EU health sector, including adapting Ukrainian legislation to the EU regulatory framework.
In total, inter-state cooperation is foreseen in fourteen priority areas, including building resilience to threats, developing public and mental health services, and other areas.
The technical agreement between the two countries is part of the existing security agreement between Lithuania and Ukraine, which was signed by the Presidents of both countries in the summer of this year.
Lithuania and Ukraine have previously signed several agreements in the field of health: a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation covering key parts of the health system and a Memorandum of Understanding on rehabilitation services for Ukrainians.