Experiences and practices between the countries receiving Ukrainian displaced people were the main theme of the consultation of representatives of the countries V4, Romania, Moldova and WHO, organised in Bratislava on 18 and 19 April by the WHO Regional Office for Europe together with the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.
The meeting was attended by representatives of health departments of these countries, the director of emergency situations in the WHO European region Gerald Rockenschaub, other WHO experts, as well as a range of non-state actors involved in managing the needs of Ukrainian displaced persons.
The war in Ukraine has put the whole of Europe before a challenge that affects almost all areas of everyday life. From a health point of view, this is a conflict, the consequences of which we will have for a long time. said State Secretary MZ SR Michal Palkovič. He reminded that since the beginning of the conflict, almost 200 thousand citizens of Ukraine came to the Slovak territory only, while 113 thousand of them requested temporary refuge. He appreciated that the meeting was an opportunity for countries to inspire themselves to address the problems of providing healthcare to Ukrainians and to engage in the most effective assistance to those who need it most.
The consultation focused on sharing information on the provision of health care for displaced persons from Ukraine between the participating countries, from the outbreak of the conflict to the present, on sharing examples of good practice in countries, but also on identifying possible gaps or factors affecting (or affecting) the management of Ukrainian displaced persons in the health system. The discussions focused on communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental diseases, health data management, the health workforce, the role of NGOs in the management of Ukrainian displaced people's needs, and the coordination and management of health emergencies.
This sub-regional consultation followed the previous meeting of countries neighbouring Ukraine, with the participation of WHO experts, which took place at the initiative of the Slovak Health Minister on the margins of the 75th World Health Assembly in May 2022 in Geneva.
