Spain is expanding its training program for Ukrainian doctors and its support for military medicine. This was discussed during the second day of a working visit to the Kingdom of Spain by the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Care and Health Insurance.
The parties discussed the development of the medical partnership between Ukraine and Spain, the training of Ukrainian doctors, and broader support for the healthcare system.
One of the key events was a meeting with Antón Leis García, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). It is AECID that implements the Specialized Medical Training Program (PFMES), which was launched for Ukraine following a visit by the agency's leadership to our country in 2024 to address the challenges of the full-scale war.
On the Ukrainian side, the Vynnyky Regional Hospital for War Veterans became the initial partner. To date, 11 training fellowships have already been conducted for Ukrainian medics in the fields of traumatology, neurorehabilitation, minimally invasive surgery, intensive care, and other specialties. In 2026, the program is being expanded, with an additional 7 new training slots made available. Moving forward, there are plans to involve hospitals from Kyiv and the Kyiv region in the program.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed AECID’s further participation in the recovery of the Ukrainian healthcare system. The Spanish side is already supporting Ukraine by providing hospitals with medical equipment, mobile medical units, backup power sources, and by implementing projects in the field of rehabilitation. The parties agreed to continue cooperation in healthcare workforce training, the development of rehabilitation care, and the modernization of Ukraine's medical infrastructure.
As part of the working visit, the Ukrainian delegation visited the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital, where they met with the Inspector General of Defense Health of the Ministry of Defense of Spain, General Juan Antonio Lara Garrido, the hospital's leadership, and Irene Bernal, Director of the state-owned CSAI Foundation. It is the CSAI Foundation, operating under the Ministry of Health of Spain, that implements international healthcare workforce training programs and health system strengthening initiatives alongside AECID. The delegation observed the operations of one of Spain’s leading military medical centers, where Ukrainian doctors are currently undergoing training, and discussed opportunities to expand their training programs in the fields of military surgery, combat trauma treatment, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and wartime healthcare management.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mykhailo Radutskyi, noted that Ukraine and Spain already share a robust strategic partnership in the field of healthcare. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Kingdom of Spain for its comprehensive support of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian delegation comprised Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chairman of the Committee on National Health, Committee members Olha Stefanishyna, Oksana Dmytriieva, Maksym Perebyinis, and Serhiy Kuzminykh, as well as the Ambassador of Ukraine to Spain, Yuliia Sokolovska.
