TOWARDS HEALTH FOR ALL: ADVANCING NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES CARE THROUGH SWISS-UKRAINIAN COOPERATION
On 4 April, 2025, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch Phase 2 of the Act4Health project. This agreement reinforces the shared commitment to improving Ukraine’s health system with a specific focus on combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Implemented by GFA Consulting Group in consortium with Geneva University Hospitals and local partners including Women’s Health and Family Planning and OneHealth, this phase represents the largest and most sustained SDC investment related to NCDs in Ukraine to date. The second phase of Act4Health aims at further reducing NCD risk factors, while strengthening the quality and accessibility of prevention, diagnosis, and long-term management of chronic diseases. It prioritises enhancing the capacities of the Ukrainian Public Health Centre and primary health care (PHC) providers to detect and manage chronic conditions early by using people-centred and evidence-based approaches.
The project supports Ukraine in reaching Sustainable Development Goal 3 – ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all – and aligns with the country’s National NCD Action Plan, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and equity. Interventions will be implemented across seven regions: Lviv, Poltava, Rivne, Dnipro, Kherson, Cherkasy, and Khmelnytskyi. Proven tools developed during Phase 1 will be scaled up nationally to broaden their impact.
A major focus of Phase 2 is to improve coordination between health and social care systems to ensure that patients with chronic conditions and those in need of care receive seamless, coordinated support. Strengthening linkages among PHC providers, social workers, and community-based services is expected to create more robust and responsive care networks. In addition, the project will expand access to home-based care, allowing individuals with reduced mobility or complex health needs to receive treatment in a familiar and dignified setting.
To reach underserved and remote communities, the project will deploy medical mobile teams that will bring essential health services directly to populations beyond the current reach of health infrastructure. Through a combination of outreach, enhanced PHC services, and cross-sector collaboration, Act4Health Phase 2 will promote inclusive and equitable healthcare delivery while contributing to the long-term resilience and recovery of Ukraine’s health system.
> Learn more about the project
