Finland signs statement to support healthcare in Ukraine
The Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen was held in Kyiv on 6 September 2023 on the invitation of Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine. The summit also brought together health ministers from EU Member States and WHO European Region who signed a statement at the event.
The statement draws attention to how the health workforce – its capacity, wellbeing, professionalism and commitment – is the cornerstone of well-functioning healthcare, and that international cooperation will be increasingly needed to ensure that healthcare systems can sustainably respond to the challenges posed by a range of crises.
Finland agrees with the statement and seeks opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine and other signatories in order to promote the statement objectives.
Statement on building resilient international health partnership empowering health workers
Date: September 06, 2023
Place: Ministers` Meeting at the Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, Kyiv, Ukraine
Supported by the Ministers of Health of:
The Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Finland, Ireland, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
We acknowledge that health and access to healthcare is a fundamental human right and the health workforce, its capacity, well-being, professionalism and commitment, is a cornerstone of any health system, capable of ensuring universal health coverage and ability to adequately respond to disasters, hazards, conflicts and other global challenges.
We recognise that, in the modern era, no single health system can be fully secure from such risks, and that improved international cooperation and joint actions are essential tools to mitigate them and reduce vulnerability.
We remain committed to the objectives set by the World Health Organisation in the Global strategy on human resources for health: Workforce 2030.
With respect to the heroism and dedication of health workers, involved in providing care to the victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the frontline, across Ukraine, in countries hosting those who have fled the war, or facing the global impacts of the war around the world, we strongly support that best practices and lessons learnt should be incorporated into global policies and transformed into initiatives, helping to prevent and minimise negative consequences of such events in the future.
We recommend establishing multilayered partnerships, encouraging both governmental and expert-to-expert cooperation and communication.
We aim to make the benefits of international cooperation transparent and achievable for all health workers, encouraging them to be a substantial part and driver of this cooperation.
We encourage any formal or informal avenues of cooperation, beneficial for the main objective of the Statement and consolidating efforts towards empowering health workers.
We welcome countries and stakeholders, who share the values of this Statement and remain open to developing new partnerships.
Further information:
Pasi Korhonen, Director of International Affairs, tel. +358 50 441 6108, pasi.korhonen@gov.fi
Beginning of Statement updated on 8 September 2023.