NP-UN National Affairs Desk.
Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, accompanied by Yvan Baker, MPP for Etobicoke Centre, was in Ukraine earlier this month to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dr. Ulana Suprun, Acting Minister of Health for Ukraine, reported Ontario’s Ministry of Health, February 9.
For the next three years, this agreement will promote cooperation on training programs and research projects, and the exchange of information and health care professionals.
This partnership will focus on: Telehealth and telemedicine; Disease prevention and control; Emergency care; Mental health and addictions; Education of health care professionals; Rural medicine and health care delivery.
Ontario and Ukraine may choose to renew or amend this MOU at any time as agreed to by both participants. Ontario has previously signed approximately seven international MOUs to share information and develop health innovations.
“Ontario has been collaborating with Ukraine on a number of training, education and knowledge-sharing initiatives. This agreement strengthens our important relationship by establishing a partnership to share information regarding health care delivery and cooperative programs that will benefit us both. I look forward to continuing to build this relationship in the future,” said Dr. Hoskins.
“Today, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate with the Government of Ontario seals our mutual intention to work together on a three-year program for health care development and participation. Our main objective is to transform the Ukraine’s healthcare system into an effective healthcare service of the 21st century. We really appreciate Canada’s support in this process, as this is the country that has always offered Ukraine a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on, even at the most difficult times,” noted Dr. Suprun.
“I am pleased that Ontario will be sharing its knowledge and best practices in telehealth and telemedicine as well as other areas of health care delivery, such as rural medicine, emergency care, mental health and addictions, the education of health care professionals, and disease prevention. I am proud that Ontario will help transform the way health care is delivered in Ukraine and will help Ukrainians live healthier lives,” added Baker.
Minister Suprun previously met with Minister Hoskins and MPP Baker in Toronto in November 2017 to discuss best practices in health policy, including telemedicine.
On February 7, Minister Hoskins and MPP Baker met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Vice Prime Minister Gennadiy Zubko and Minister of Health Dr. Ulana Suprun to discuss the health care reforms in Ukraine.
At the time of the meeting, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ukraine, the Government of Canada and The World Bank was signed under which the parties committed to working together to design and implement telemedicine in Ukraine.
Minister Hoskins reaffirmed Ontario’s commitment to providing Ontario’s expertise to support the design and implementation of telemedicine in Ukraine.
Canada and Ukraine have enjoyed close bilateral relations since Canada was the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine’s independence on December 2, 1991. There are approximately 1.3 million people of Ukrainian descent living in Canada – 342,000 of which live in Ontario.
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