Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chair of the Committee on National Health, Medical Care and Health Insurance, and Olha Stefanishyna, Chair of the Committee’s European Integration Subcommittee, held a working meeting with German colleagues from the Bundestag
11 May 2026, 15:51
On May 8, at the invitation of the Committee on Health of the Bundestag, Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chair of the Committee on National Health, and Olha Stefanishyna met with their German counterparts in Berlin.
The sides discussed a range of important issues for Ukrainian healthcare. It was noted that Germany has more than a century of experience in medical self-governance — a public institution that allows healthcare professionals to manage their professional activities, including quality control of medical services, verification of doctors’ qualifications, and consideration of ethical issues in medical practice. The German Medical Association is one of the most powerful and respected medical professional organisations in the world.
Regarding Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada has already adopted in the first reading a draft law on the establishment of four medical chambers, which would give the professional community greater influence over decision-making in the healthcare sector. Therefore, Ukrainian parliamentarians asked their German colleagues to share their experience in implementing medical self-governance, as well as in creating a register of medical professionals and launching this system.
It was also noted that an important aspect is Ukraine’s involvement in European mechanisms for ensuring access to critical medicines.
Earlier this year, the European Parliament supported the EU Critical Medicines Act with amendments taking into account Ukraine’s interests. The document aims to strengthen the availability and production of essential medicines in the European Union, as well as to reduce dependence on active pharmaceutical ingredient supplies from India and China. In particular, it includes the possibility for Ukraine, as a candidate country, to join joint procurement of critical medicines.
The Ukrainian side expressed readiness to facilitate the establishment of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production facilities in Ukraine by German companies, including offering certain incentives, developing pharmaceutical clusters in industrial parks, and applying the “investment nanny” mechanism. German parliamentarians stated their readiness to support amendments beneficial for Ukraine to the document, which still requires approval by the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.
Ukrainian representatives also emphasised the importance of cooperation with German counterparts in implementing European requirements in the field of medical device regulation.
Currently, Ukraine is developing relevant legislation. In addition, the European Commission is implementing a Twinning project with the participation of Germany, Poland, and Lithuania to establish a Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency. This is an important step towards building a modern system in line with EU standards. In particular, the agency will also regulate the use of medical devices. The German side may provide support in training personnel and sharing experience in risk classification of counterfeit products.
The meeting also discussed the introduction of artificial intelligence into the healthcare system. Members of the Bundestag noted that this issue is currently being debated in Germany, while the Ukrainian side informed them about ongoing work on preparing the relevant legislative framework in this field.
As part of the visit, a separate meeting was held between members of the Committee on National Health of Ukraine and Sascha van Beek, focusing on the impact of war on the Ukrainian healthcare system, the most pressing diseases among military personnel, the Medevac programme, and further cooperation between Ukraine and Germany.
Mykhailo Radutskyi and Olha Stefanishyna also visited the headquarters of the Association of Medical Chambers of Germany, where they learned about the functioning of the medical self-governance system and spoke with Domen Podnar.
Mykhailo Radutskyi expressed sincere gratitude to the people, Parliament, and Government of Germany for comprehensive support for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian delegation also included Oleksii Makeiev, Tetiana Havrysh, Director for Strategic Development of the “Healthy Solutions for an Open Society” Foundation, and Viktoriia Tymoshevska, Executive Director of the foundation. The German side was represented by Tanja Machalet, committee members, and Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Health Georg Kippels.