National Conference “Facing the Challenge: the future of HIV and health care reform in Ukraine” started in Kyiv
On May 25, 2016, the national conference Facing the challenge: the future of HIV and health care reform in Ukraine, organized by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in collaboration with the USAID HIV Reform in Action Project, started in Kyiv.
The main goal of the Conference is to draw attention to the health system and HIV sector reform with a focus on the implementation of state policies and the optimization of human and financial resource allocation. The conference brought together almost 200 participants representing national and regional stakeholders, international partners, NGOs and academic sector.
“Changes in the approach to HIV in Ukraine should be in tune with the public health reform which is focused on the Ukraine 2020 Sustainable Development Strategy approved by the Decree of the President of Ukraine. This is a very important and relevant concept, as we consider public health to be a resource for national security, a tool that allows people to live a safe, productive and quality life” – said acting Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Shafranskyi during the opening of the Conference.
The Conference participants were welcomed by the Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Health Committee, MP of Ukraine Olha Bohomolets, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Mykola Povoroznik, USAID Mission Director in Ukraine Susan Fritz, UNAIDS Country Coordinator Jacek Tyszko, Chair of the Coordination Council of the PLHIV NetworkDmytro Sherembey and Director of the USAID HIV Reform in Action Project Ibrahim Shehata.
The Conference participants emphasized the need to look for actions at the national and local levels to implement changes necessary to follow Fast-Track initiatives and achieve the global 90-90-90 targets to end the epidemic by 2030 in the context of considerably diminishing investment from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria after 2017. The Conference served as a forum to present new strategies, exchange ideas, best practices, and practical tools ultimately aiming to consolidate partners’ efforts to more effectively implement HIV/AIDS programming, financing and service provision.
In addition, the Conference participants considered the following issues: global HIV challenges and implications for the national HIV response; Health Financing Strategy and linkages with the provision of key services to key populations; workforce planning in HIV and healthcare sector; reform of HIV/AIDS services’ system at the regional level; the role of the regions in piloting novel approaches and mechanisms in the HIV response; sustainable service delivery models; ensuring access for key populations; the use of strategic information for HIV decision-making process.