PARIS (17 November) – The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) today approved a €100 million loan to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to finance the restoration of health infrastructure damaged by the war and meet urgent health needs.
According to the Ministry of Health data, the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has caused approximately $2.5 billion in damage to the health sector infrastructure. As a result, the availability and accessibility of health services in Ukraine have been severely curtailed, particularly in the regions where armed conflict has taken place.
The CEB’s loan will support the Health Enhancement and Life-Saving (HEAL) project, a $500 million framework operation developed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ukrainian authorities, which is designed to bring together development partners. The World Bank has already approved $100 million loan and $20 million in grants to get the project off the ground.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our cooperation with Ukraine for the country’s reconstruction. Our first loan to the Ministry of Health focuses on restoring and improving access to essential health services, including mental health, and represents an important step toward a resilient recovery for the people of Ukraine,” said CEB Governor Carlo Monticelli.
"The reconstruction of healthcare facilities is of vital importance for our people, especially in the context of Russia's full-scale armed aggression, when a large number of such facilities were destroyed or damaged. I would like to express our full and sincere gratitude to the CEB for welcoming Ukraine among its members and taking this first step towards implementing a socially important project in the healthcare sector. Joining the Bank and having direct representation on the Administrative Council will allow Ukraine to effectively benefit from the Bank's experience and resources for the fastest possible recovery. This is another step on the path of Ukraine's further integration into the EU," said Olga Zykova, Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine and CEB Administrative Council representative.
“Health infrastructure and access to health services in Ukraine have been severely damaged and impaired by the brutal aggression of the Russian Federation. Our goal is to provide Ukrainians with access to medical care, despite all challenges. I sincerely thank international partners, including the CEB, for their reliable support and help to achieve this goal” emphasized Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine.
The funding from the CEB will enable the Ministry of Health to strengthen primary health care, supporting mobile teams that provide essential health services in areas of the country affected by the war as well as remote ones. The project will also finance renovation of hospital buildings and help address urgent new health needs, in particular related to mental health.
In the long-term, the project will increase the resilience of Ukraine’s health sector through targeted investments in e-health and introducing new functions for sustainable and innovative health service delivery.
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