Karolinska is the Swedish hospital that has received the most sick and injured patients from Ukraine, 70. So far, the aid has included patients with war wounds, cancer patients and children. The first two patients arrived at Karolinska in Huddinge on 29 March 2022, just over a month after Ukraine was attacked by Russia.
In word and deed, Region Stockholm stands behind the independent state of Ukraine in it’s struggle against Russia’s illegal war of aggression. Through Karolinska, we are taking care of patients from Ukraine and we have previously sent buses, medical equipment and medicines. Just last week, we sent another ambulance to Ukraine that we were able to spare. We do not rule out any new support measures. Here in Stockholm or on site in Ukraine, says Aida Hadžialić (S), Mayor of Metropolitan Stockholm and President of the Stockholm Regional Council.
In the two agreements that have now been signed, trauma care, ear, nose and throat care, and paediatric care are primarily identified as areas for in-depth cooperation. Special focus will be placed on, among other things, governance and management, nursing, implementation of new technology and European standards, joint research projects, opportunities for internships and collaboration between trauma centers. The agreements are broadly worded to allow for adjustments.
The needs of Ukrainian patients must be the guiding principle and their needs may change over time. The agreements provide a framework for building closer relationships between the hospitals that allow us to learn from each other and improve healthcare in both Ukraine and Sweden. Closer collaboration also means that our Ukrainian sister hospitals will have access to Karolinska’s network in Europe and the rest of the world, says Björn Zoëga, hospital director at Karolinska University Hospital.
Since the start of the war, there has been a great desire among Karolinska’s employees to do more for the people of Ukraine and for healthcare workers who are struggling under difficult conditions. With the agreements, we now have a better structure for our continued collaboration, says Björn Zoëga.
Ohmatdyt National Specialized Children’s Hospital in Kyiv is Ukraine’s leading and largest children’s hospital. The hospital, which has approximately 720 beds, treats 20,000 patients annually and performs approximately 10,000 surgeries.
We already collaborate with Karolinska University Hospital to a limited extent. The agreement means that we can deepen and broaden our exchanges. In paediatric care, I see a lot of opportunities for collaboration. We know that Karolinska is at the forefront of paediatric oncology and paediatric transplantation. These are areas where we see great potential, as well as in ECMO but also in logistics and transport, says Volodymyr Zhovnir, director of Ohmatdyt National Specialized Children’s Hospital in Kyiv.
The agreements between the two Ukrainian hospitals and Karolinska University Hospital have been signed as a result of the fact that the Ministers of Health of Ukraine and Sweden signed an overall Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the area of healthcare and health today, 1 December.
Facts: 70 patients from Ukraine have been treated at Karolinska University Hospital
So far, 70 patients from Ukraine have been treated at Karolinska. 36 of these are oncology patients, 31 are trauma patients and 3 are children with various diagnoses.
Facts: Karolinska University Hospital’s partner hospital in Ukraine
Kryvyi Rih City Clinical Hospital in the city of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine has 860 beds. The hospital offers emergency care, routine medical care and highly specialized medical care in 34 medical specialties. The hospital’s catchment area has 800,000 inhabitants.
Ohmatdyt National Specialized Children’s Hospital in Kyiv is Ukraine’s leading and largest children’s hospital. The hospital, which has approximately 720 beds, treats 20,000 patients annually and performs approximately 10,000 surgeries. This year, the hospital celebrates its 130th anniversary.