Ukraine: 1,000 Ukrainian patients transferred to European hospitals

Since the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the EU has successfully coordinated 1,000 medical evacuations of Ukrainian patients via its Civil Protection Mechanism.

As the number of wounded people in Ukraine grows day by day, local hospitals are struggling to cope with the demand. To relieve this pressure, the EU has been coordinating patient transfers to other European countries that have availability in their hospitals, since 11 March. The MEDEVAC scheme transfers patients who meet the eligibility criteria, whether they are chronically ill or have been wounded in the war. Patients have been transferred to 18 countries so far: Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Romania, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Lithuania, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Recent operations include the transfer of two patients to the Czech Republic on 3 August and the evacuation of 15 patients to Germany, four patients to the Netherlands and two patients to Norway on 4 August.

“Together with the Ukrainian authorities, we are also looking into ways to bring patients back home when they have finished their treatment, if they choose to do so. This lifesaving work will continue, as will the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine,” said Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

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