An international lecture on “Health security and the protection of healthcare systems in times of crisis: legal challenges and governance responses” was held at KMU as part of the KMU Voices Project

On August 14, Kyiv Medical University hosted an international lecture as part of the KMU Voices Project, focusing on health security, the resilience of healthcare systems in times of crisis, and the legal and governance mechanisms required to ensure their effective functioning.

The lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Claudia Seitz.

Professor of Public Law, European Law, Public International Law and Life Sciences Law,

Faculty of Law of the Private University in the Principality of Liechtenstein (UFL),

Head of the Institute for European and International Law (IEIL).

During the lecture, participants explored how healthcare systems can remain resilient and ensure the continuity of essential medical services when countries face crises and emergencies.

Among the key topics discussed were:

• the concept of health security and its importance in times of crisis;
• the protection of healthcare systems and the continuity of essential medical services;
• legal challenges faced by governments and healthcare institutions during crises;
• the role of European and international law in protecting health and healthcare systems;
• governance responses to public health emergencies and other crises;
• challenges faced by healthcare professionals and institutions when healthcare systems operate under significant pressure;
• the protection of patients, healthcare workers, medical infrastructure, and fundamental rights.

The lecture provided students and faculty with an opportunity to explore the resilience of healthcare systems not only from a medical perspective, but also through legal and governance approaches, and to engage in professional dialogue with an international expert.

The event was made possible through the cooperation agreement between Kyiv Medical University and the European Association of Health Law. Kyiv Medical University is currently the only university in Ukraine to have such an agreement.

Through this partnership, the KMU academic community gains access to lectures and professional dialogue with leading international experts in medical law, bioethics, and health policy.

The international lecture was held within the framework of KMU Voices — an international educational initiative aimed at bringing leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners from around the world into the academic community of Kyiv Medical University.

We thank Prof. Dr. Claudia Seitz for the insightful lecture and for the opportunity to deepen the KMU academic community’s understanding of the legal and governance dimensions of healthcare system resilience in times of crisis.

KMU Voices — international expertise, new perspectives, one academic community!