Ukraine continues to face a severe humanitarian emergency due to ongoing conflict, mass displacement and widespread infrastructure damage. Hospitals remain at the forefront. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, over 1900 attacks on health care have further crippled the medical system, leaving millions without reliable access to essential services.
On 15–16 April 2025, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and WHO Country Office in Ukraine, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is organizing a workshop on hospital emergency response planning. This workshop, funded by the Government of Germany, aims to improve the preparedness and readiness of hospitals to effectively manage emergencies and disasters, with a focus on ensuring the safety and continuity of care in hospitals during crises. It will bring together hospital administrators, emergency planners, health-care providers and other stakeholders engaged in hospital preparedness, readiness and disaster response.
This workshop will particularly emphasize chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazards. Participants will gain specialized knowledge on how to prepare hospitals to respond to these high-risk emergencies, which require specific protocols and procedures. By highlighting the CBRN risks, the workshop aims to ensure that hospitals are equipped to handle a diverse range of emergency scenarios.
During the workshop, participants will learn how to assess hospital emergency preparedness using proven tools like the WHO hospital safety index (HSI). These tools are internationally recognized for their ability to help health-care institutions to evaluate their readiness and identify areas of improvement. The training will also guide participants through the process of creating a hospital emergency response plan (HERP), customized to the unique needs and capacities of each participating hospital.
After the classroom component of the training, many participants will have the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test by assessing their hospitals. This hands-on experience will allow attendees to apply the knowledge gained in real-life settings, providing valuable insights into their hospital’s response capabilities. The hospital visits will serve as a critical learning opportunity, allowing participants to refine their plans based on the observations made during the assessment.
By the end of the workshop, each hospital involved will have developed a draft hospital emergency response plan, laying the foundation for a comprehensive, actionable strategy to address potential emergencies. The goal is to strengthen the resilience of health-care systems and improve their ability to manage crises effectively.
WHO Representative for Ukraine Jarno Habicht emphasized that this workshop comes at a critical time. “As Ukraine continues to face significant challenges in strengthening its health-care infrastructure,” he said, “improving hospital readiness and preparedness has never been more crucial. This workshop is a priority for us as it will enhance the resilience of our health-care system, ensuring that our hospitals are equipped to respond effectively to emergencies and ultimately save lives. We are truly grateful to the Government of Germany for their generous funding of this important initiative, which will significantly contribute to our efforts to build a resilient health-care system in Ukraine.”