In May 2025, the Jędrzej Śniadecki Voivodeship Polyclinical Hospital in Białystok inaugurated three cross-border projects implemented under the PL-UA Programme. The celebrations took place during three conferences organised in the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Through study visits, knowledge exchange and access to the latest technology, the facility has become a leader of change in the area of medical care. The total investment exceeds 7.8 MEUR, of which more than 6.8 MEUR is funded by the European Union under the Programme.
The first project, ‘Joint development of accessible and resilient health care for elderly and disabled patients of Białystok and Volyn hospitals’ (acronym GO!spitals), launched on 6th May 2025 in cooperation with Lutsk Regional Hospital, is a large infrastructure project of a strategic nature for the region, implemented with European Union funding of more than 3.1 MEUR. On the Polish side, a comprehensive renovation of the Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Rheumatology is planned, including the adaptation of rooms to meet the needs of the elderly and disabled and the purchase of specialist equipment. On the Ukrainian side, the Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Surgery Department will be renovated, which will also be equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment equipment to improve the quality and comfort of patient care.
The project will develop and test common solutions for the treatment of older people and people with disabilities, including multi-disease, pharmacotherapy and rehabilitation. The knowledge and good practices developed by specialists from Poland and Ukraine will also be transferred to other medical facilities in the border region. At the same time, the families of patients will also be supported – 20 short instructional films will be produced to show in an accessible way how to take care of elderly and dependent people on a daily basis, as well as examples of physical exercises to support rehabilitation. These activities will facilitate the home care and recovery of patients.
The second initiative, inaugurated on 21st May, is the project ‘Ensuring accessibility of health care services to patients with cardiovascular diseases in the Polish-Ukrainian border area through the modernization of medical infrastructure and equipment’ (acronym HealthyHeart) for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, implemented jointly with the Yuri Semenyuk Rivne Regional Clinical Hospital. On the Polish side, the project includes the purchase of a CT scanner with a cardiac attachment worth around 1.2 MEUR, which will significantly enhance the diagnosis of atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm and pulmonary embolism, among others. The Ukrainian partner is modernising the operating theatre and equipping it with a hybrid angiograph, thereby increasing the capacity to treat heart conditions in Rivne. The initiative also includes a ‘Healthy Life’ prevention campaign – workshops, educational films, open days and spots to promote healthy lifestyles.
The third project, ‘Jointly improvement of cross-border healthcare in the field of surgery and orthopedics in the region of Białystok and Khust’ (acronym NonInvasiveCare), launched on 28th May 2025, is being implemented in collaboration with the Khust Central Hospital Named After Vicinsky Ostap Petrovych. Two operating tables – an orthopaedic and a neurosurgical one – and a robotic surgery toolkit have been purchased in Białystok. In Khust, a major refurbishment of the operating theatre and four rooms was planned, with the retrofitting of modern equipment for minimally invasive procedures, including a laparoscope, arthroscope and cystoscope.
The activities carried out under these three projects complement each other, creating a coherent strategy for improving medical care in the border region. On the one hand, this involves investment in infrastructure and modern equipment, and on the other, the development of staff competencies, health promotion and support for patients and their families. Joint training, preventive campaigns and exchange of experience strengthen the relationship between Polish and Ukrainian facilities, building the foundation for long-term cooperation in the area of healthcare.
All projects will last until 2027, but their effects will be felt much longer. The next few months will be a time of joint activities that will strengthen not only the infrastructure, but also the partnership between facilities on both sides of the border.