Press action medeor

More than four years after the start of the war, access to healthcare remains severely limited for millions of people in Ukraine. Repeated attacks on hospitals and civilian infrastructure, the high number of injured individuals, and the ongoing strain on healthcare workers make medical care increasingly difficult – especially in regions close to the frontline.

Strengthening emergency and primary healthcare

In their joint project, The Johanniter and action medeor combine acute medical assistance with the targeted expansion of local health structures. Key areas include access to primary and emergency healthcare, preparing hospitals and emergency services for mass‑casualty incidents, and strengthening emergency communication and dispatch systems.

Health facilities receive medical equipment and urgently needed supplies to ensure they remain operational even under challenging conditions. “Day after day, Ukrainian healthcare workers provide life‑saving assistance – despite airstrikes, damaged infrastructure, and immense personal strain. Together with our partners Eleos Ukraine, 100% Life, and UK‑Med, we are strengthening local health structures so that people continue to have access to essential medical care.

“This includes training medical teams in trauma care and mass‑casualty response, equipping hospitals and emergency services, and providing mobile medical services that ensure care even when facilities are damaged or overwhelmed,” says Dr. Tim Bray, Country Director of The Johanniter in Ukraine. “Our work also focuses on the healthcare workers themselves. They operate under constant threat and face enormous emotional stress. Through psychosocial support and the strengthening of emergency systems, we help ensure that healthcare can be maintained even under the most difficult conditions.”

The Johanniter have taken on the leadership of the consortium. The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and donations to Aktion Deutschland Hilft.

Mobile clinics for frontline regions

A key component of the project involves delivering medicines and providing mobile medical care to people in frontline and hard‑to‑reach areas. This part of the project is implemented by action medeor within the consortium and complements the measures coordinated by The Johanniter to strengthen healthcare services.

“Together with our partners INTERSOS and Mission Kharkiv, we will establish a network of mobile clinics – from Kherson in the south to Sumy in the north – to provide medical care to people near the frontline,” explains Max Hoßfeld, Ukraine Advisor at action medeor. “The treatment of chronic illnesses and specialized services, such as therapy for cancer patients, will be central to this effort.”

Emergency plans, drills, and cooperation in mass‑casualty situations

Another key element of the project is the training of healthcare professionals: doctors, nurses, emergency medical staff, and dispatch personnel receive practical training in emergency medicine, first aid, psychological first aid, and mass‑casualty management. Standardized procedures aim to improve cooperation among all actors and increase response capacity. The consortium works closely with Ukrainian authorities in this process.

In addition, the project partners develop medical emergency concepts for civilian facilities. Emergency plans are created for train stations, public authorities, and healthcare institutions, medical equipment is provided, and training sessions are conducted to ensure that injured individuals can be treated quickly and professionally in mass‑casualty situations.

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