News

NaUKMA received a two-year grant from the WHO for the implementation of a project to ensure sustainable treatment of breast cancer in Ukraine

Details

Published on Monday, 26 May 2025 13:17

In 2025-2026, the NaUKMA School of Public Health, in collaboration with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and the NGO "Athens. Women Against Cancer", will implement a grant of the World Health Organization (WHO) under the financial support from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR).

The project “Continuity and Resilience in Breast Cancer Care: Assessing the Ukrainian Healthcare System in 2022-2024 (CORE-BC)” is extremely important for Ukraine and is designed to address a critical gap in health systems research by examining how Ukraine's healthcare system can sustain essential cancer care amidst war.

Breast cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Ukraine, demands continuous care for early detection, timely treatment, and survivorship support. The Russian invasion has exacerbated healthcare disruptions, leading to delays, treatment abandonment, and reduced access to services, therefore, the project aims to assess the effectiveness of the health care system in Ukraine to maintain the continuum of care for breast cancer patients and to gain a deep understanding of the underlying drivers that contribute to the resilience of Ukrainian health system and cancer care provision. Its findings will provide actionable insights to ensure uninterrupted, equitable access to breast cancer services for vulnerable populations. The project will also inform national policy reforms to strengthen healthcare delivery and governance, enhance patient outcomes, and improve health system resilience. Beyond Ukraine, the study’s outcomes will contribute to global strategies for managing NCDs in crisis settings, offering a replicable framework for other conflict-affected and resource-constrained regions.

This project received financial support from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, a hosted partnership at the World Health Organization headquarters. The Alliance is able to conduct its work thanks to the commitment and support from a variety of funders. These include a long-term support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), as well as designated funding for specific projects within the Alliance’s current priorities. For the full list of Alliance donors, please visit the official website.