The health ministers of the EU Member States coordinated the health response to the consequences of the Russian invasion during a video conference on Tuesday 15 March, which was also attended by the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, and Viktor Liachko, the Ukrainian Health Minister.
The ministers’ work focused on two issues. On the one hand, the Europeans wish to ensure health care for Ukrainian refugees by restoring continuity of care, whether routine or acute (burns, cancers, rare or chronic diseases, particularly among children and vulnerable people), without loss of opportunity. Psychological care must also be provided.
Access to care is guaranteed by the activation of the so-called ‘temporary protection directive’.
On the other hand, the ministers worked on solutions at European level to prevent European health systems, particularly in the Member States bordering Ukraine, from being overwhelmed by the influx of people. Tons of medical supplies have already been delivered to Ukraine, and more are expected to follow.
Medical capabilities are provided on the ground through the European Civil Protection Mechanism (see other news). The work is carried out in conjunction with industry, doctors’ and nurses’ associations, and civil society partners and in cooperation with the World Health Organization.
The European Civil Protection Mechanism could also provide for the deployment of medical personnel, but there were no specific requests for this at the meeting of ministers.
The European Commission plans to monitor children’s immunisation against measles, polio, tuberculosis, etc. through HERA.
Medical evacuations were carried out from Poland to provide more appropriate care for patients and to reduce the pressure on health care systems in countries bordering Ukraine. These evacuations must be intensified, according to the French minister, Olivier Véran, and the means of transport must be sized accordingly.
Temporary hospitals in Poland could help with patient evacuations. The establishment of health facilities in Poland for medical triage could be considered and supported at European level.
The European Commission has already carried out an inventory of reception and hospitalisation capacities in the Member States for Ukrainian refugees in need of care. The French Presidency of the EU Council is in contact with Ukrainian and Polish partners to better identify local needs.
Finally, the urgency is to ensure continuity of care and the resilience of health systems, Mrs Kyriakides told the media, but health authorities and Member States will help promote vaccination against Covid-19 among people arriving from Ukraine, she added. The European Commission has been informed by the Member States that they have sufficient vaccine doses.
The Commissioner recalls that the ECDC has issued guidance on the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the context of the invasion of Ukraine.
A further update on the coordination of European health assistance will be provided on 29 March. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)