Kyiv, 25 March 2025 — The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, have delivered 16 ambulances to regional centres for emergency medical care and disaster medicine in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Donetsk oblasts.

The eight Type B vehicles were designed to transport and provide basic medical care to non-critical patients. They are equipped with vital signs monitoring equipment, oxygen support, and basic resuscitation tools, including a defibrillator, electrocardiograph, and devices for measuring blood pressure, saturation, and pulse. These vehicles ensure access to emergency medical care even in the most remote areas.

The further eight Type C vehicles are being used as resuscitation vehicles in critical situations, such as heart attacks, severe injuries, or other emergencies. They are equipped with all the necessary tools and supplies to stabilize patients before they arrive at the hospital, allowing medical professionals to provide emergency care during transport.

The total cost of the vehicles was US$910,880. They will strengthen the emergency health care system and enable a faster response to critical situations, particularly in war-affected communities, enhancing the accessibility and quality of health care services and ensuring that those most in need receive prompt assistance.

Mariia Karchevych, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine, expressed her gratitude to the development partners for their consistent support in strengthening Ukraine’s emergency health care system. “The swift response to medical emergencies is a cornerstone of effective health care. With support from the EU and UNDP, health care professionals now have additional resources to reach patients even in the most remote areas. These new vehicles will provide vital assistance to medical specialists who tirelessly serve communities under challenging conditions,” MariiaKarchevych stated.

Rémi Duflot, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, emphasized the European Union’s commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s health care system and ensure that all citizens have access to high-quality medical services. “Timely emergency care is critical to saving lives, and we share the Ukrainian authorities’ ambition to make it available to all. As part of this joint effort to improve patient care, the ambulances that we have just handed over will be sent to work in war-affected communities,” Rémi Duflot said.

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, highlighted the critical role of high-quality health care in building resilient communities. “A strong and adaptive society relies on well-equipped, responsive health services. Modern emergency medical transport is a key step towards a sustainable system that delivers timely care to those in need. These vehicles will not only enhance local health care infrastructure, but also contribute to long-term, sustainable improvements in community health care,” Jaco Cilliers said.

Background

The procurement and delivery of specialized vehicles is part of UNDP’s broader efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s health care system, supporting local recovery and development. This initiative contributes to the reform of emergency medical services by enhancing infrastructure, improving technical capacity, and expanding the workforce in medical institutions.

The initiative was implemented under the flagship “EU4Recovery – Empowering Communities in Ukraine” partnership between UNDP and the EU.

Media enquiries: 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org