Norway extends agreement on medical evacuation of Ukrainian patients
Press release | Date: 24/09/2024 | Last updated: 26/09/2024 | Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Care Services
The Norwegian government extends the agreement with the EU on medical evacuation of Ukrainian patients until 30 April 2025. Norwegian air transport has accounted for almost half of the evacuations from Ukraine to European countries, and Norway is the only country offering regular flights.
‘Russia continues to attack hospitals and health clinics, and the Ukrainian healthcare system is under severe pressure. One of Norway's contributions to Ukraine is to relieve the country's healthcare system and help individuals. That's why we are responding positively to a request from the EU to extend the agreement on medical evacuation from Ukraine,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Since August 2022, Norway has cooperated with the EU on regular evacuation flights of Ukrainian patients through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). The evacuation is carried out by the Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Medical Services in close cooperation with Norwegian health authorities, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and other key actors.
Around 1,931 patients have been transported to Norway and other European countries using Norwegian air transport, and over 400 patients have received treatment in Norway. The medical evacuation agreement expires in November but will now be extended until 30 April 2025. The cost of the extension is estimated at around NOK 100 million and will be covered by the Nansen programme.
‘I am pleased that we are now extending the agreement to assist the Ukrainian health service. Since the start of the full-scale invasion our health service has shown great ability and willingness to provide good treatment to patients from Ukraine, and we will continue to do so,’ said Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre.
Russian attacks on key civilian infrastructure in Ukraine continue. The WHO reports more than 1,475 attacks on hospitals and health clinics since the full-scale invasion. The need for medical evacuation of patients to European hospitals will remain high. The Ukrainian health service is under great pressure, and the evacuation helps to relieve it.
Norwegian expertise is described as a cornerstone of the European medical evacuation effort. Norwegian air transport is helping to better use of the hospital capacity that exists in many countries to relieve the health service in Ukraine.
‘The Russian attacks on Ukraine are ongoing with great intensity and brutality. They are taking Ukrainian lives, and many are injured, both civilians and soldiers. The contribution to medical evacuation is a support to Ukraine's resistance,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.