Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia Karmen Joller paid a 3-days visit to Ukraine and held meetings with her Ukrainian counterparts – Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity Denys Uliutin and Minister of Health Viktor Liashko. Minister Joller and Ambassador of Estonia to Ukraine Annely Kolk discussed the exchange of experience and deepening cooperation in various fields between Estonia and Ukaine.
Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin thanked Estonia for supporting reforms and restoration in Zhytomyr region where several important social projects have already been implemented. Karmen Joller noted that for Estonia helping Ukraine is essential and Estonian people have a lot of common, sharing same thoughts and same values.
Ministers discussed social sector reforms in Ukraine, in particular, the introduction of new standards for the quality of social services, the development of inclusive education, the expansion of the range of social services for children with disabilities and update of social security agreement. Special attention was paid to pension provision. “We actually hope that the war will end and we can help to build Zhytomyr and share our experience. But right now we also have a lot to learn from Ukraine,” added Karmen Joller.
Photo: Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine
While meeting with Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller anounced that Estonia will continue training of Ukrainian healthcare professionals in prosthetics and rehabilitation as well as specialized training for mental health proffesionals. They discussed practical steps to implement health cooperation agreement between Ukraine and Estonia. The discussion was focused on strengthening cooperation in the field of rehabilitation, digitalization, development of international medical partnerships, joint educational programs and exchange of experience.
Viktor Liashko paid special attention to expanding the MEDEVAC program, which provides Ukrainians affected by the war with free treatment in medical institutions abroad. According to him, 30 Ukrainian citizens, including 28 military personnel, have aready received assistance in Estonian clinics. Minister also emphasised on the importance of Ukraine’s accession to the European medical data space MyHealth@EU and cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector.
Photo: Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Estonian delegation also held a meeting in WHO Ukraine Office in Kyiv and was presented with analysis of needs, according to which approximately 12.7 million people in Ukraine require urgent humanitarian assistance, 9.2 million individuals need health-related support.
Photo: WHO in Ukraine
Estonian Minister visited rehabilitation department and department for military wounded in the institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, buildings of National Specialized Children’s Hospital «Okhmatdyt», that were damaged after Russian missile attack in 2024, and neonatal screening laboratory.
Photo: Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Photo: Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Karmen Joller also went to Primary Health Care Center in Vorzel and talked to family doctors, in Bucha she met with paramedics in the Emergency Medical Service Station, visited Resilience Center and laid flowers at the Memorial to the victims of Russian occupation.
Photo: Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine
Estonian Minister of Social Affairs met firefighters in State Fire and Rescue Unit and overviewed of the care path for patients with amputations in Military Hospital, in addition Karmen Joller visited a Center for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Center for veterans TYTANOVI, which performs complex osseointegration surgeries.
Photo: Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine
The official visit to Ukraine Karmen Joller ended with visiting multimedia martyrology “Children”, where she placed a toy and honored the memory of 646 children killed by Russian aggression with a moment of silence.
Photo: Embassy of Estonia in Ukraine