Kyiv Medical University Hosted the All-Ukrainian Research and Practical Conference “Protection of the Rights of Medical and Pharmaceutical Workers and Healthcare Institutions”

On June 5, 2026, Kyiv Medical University (KMU) hosted a large-scale All-Ukrainian Research and Practical Conference entitled “PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL WORKERS AND HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS.” The event took place at the intersection of law, clinical practice, science, and spirituality, bringing together a wide range of specialists.

Practical Format and Philosophy of the Event

“It is clear that you have gathered here not just to debate, but to resolve concrete issues” – this feedback from one of the Conference participants perfectly captured the applied format of the event. The large-scale event brought together an authoritative community, featuring presentations from 21 experts.

The event began with a minute of silence – a moment of deep respect and tribute to all medical and pharmaceutical workers who lost their lives in the line of duty during the full-scale aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine.

In their welcoming remarks, the President of Kyiv Medical University, Oleksandr POKANEVYCH, and the Rector of KMU, Professor Borys IVNYEV, formulated the core idea of the Conference. They emphasized that the legal protection of a medical professional should not be viewed as an opposition to the patient’s interests. On the contrary, the safety and proper rights of a physician or a pharmacist are the fundamental prerequisites for providing high-quality, effective, and safe medical care to every individual.

Intersectoral Platform and International Perspectives

The critical relevance of the topic united a diverse group of specialists: doctors, pharmacists, heads of healthcare institutions, medical lawyers, representatives of state authorities, public organizations, and scientists. The event highlighted various vectors of the sector’s development:

• State and Scientific Approach: Acting Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, Professor Volodymyr KOROLENKO, presented a comprehensive analysis of the pharmaceutical sector’s development through the prism of human potential and capital.
• Public and Professional Sector: Ivan SOROKA, President of the Ukrainian Medical Club, and Alla KIZIM, President of the Association of Medical Sisters of Ukraine, joined the discussion among industry leaders.
• International Cooperation: Madam Liliia KOSEVYCH, Co-president of the French-Ukrainian organization “Amitie” (“Friendship”), expressed her admiration for the courage of Ukrainian healthcare workers and outlined practical opportunities for medical exchanges and the development of joint projects, particularly in the field of rehabilitation.
• Spiritual Dimension: Vitalii KLOS, Vice-Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy, brought a unique value-based perspective to the event, emphasizing that professionals who carry out their vocational service in medicine are themselves in urgent need of spiritual and psychological support today.

Session One: Legal Challenges, Risk Zones, and Protection Tools

The first plenary session focused on examining legal challenges and proposing solutions.

• The analytical discussion was opened by Radmyla HREVTSOVA (Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Health Studies at KMU and Medical Advocate). In her presentation, she drew special attention to the complex set of challenges faced by healthcare workers today – ranging from security risks to biased attitudes toward doctors and pharmacists among certain segments of society. The speaker outlined key actions that healthcare workers and institutions can take independently for their protection, as well as measures requiring systematic “legislative intervention.”
• The theme was continued by Olena VERLAN-KULSHENKO (General Director of the KNP “Nemyriv Municipal Hospital,” Master of Laws). She provided practical examples of challenges and ways to overcome them, including: proper regulation of relations with regulatory bodies (specifically the NHSU); engaging independent mediators and psychologists instead of overburdening managers and medical staff with conflict resolution; and addressing the financial burden on institutions regarding the remuneration of supervisory board members.

The legal protection block was continued by other scholars and practitioners:

• Volodymyr SYNYTSIA (Doctor, Lawyer, Associate Professor at the Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University) clearly outlined algorithms of protection and the prevention of both substantiated and unsubstantiated claims by patients.
• Inna VYSHNEVSKA (Associate Professor of the Department at the Lviv University of Internal Affairs) analyzed Article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, providing a detailed breakdown of the circumstances that preclude criminal liability for doctors and pharmacists in the course of their professional activities.
• Ivan DEMCHENKO (Associate Professor of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law at the Bogomolets National Medical University, Attorney) raised the highly topical issue of the legality of off-label drug use, defining the criteria for such legality and the boundaries of professional liability for medical workers.
• Roman MAYDANYK (Academician of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Leading Researcher at the F.H. Burchak Research Institute of Private Law and Entrepreneurship, Professor at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv) dedicated his presentation to the civil law aspects of managing reproductive biological materials under martial law. He presented a step-by-step algorithm of actions for healthcare institutions in the event of the death or declaration of death of a person (specifically, a service member) who had provided such materials.

The moderators of the first plenary session, KMU Vice-Rector Radmyla HREVTSOVA and President of the Ukrainian Medical Club Ivan SOROKA, invited each speaker to put forward at least one legislative proposal that, if adopted, could increase the level of protection for medical and pharmaceutical workers. Several speakers outlined a series of solutions.

KMU’s Innovative Vectors: From Research Projects to New Programs

During the conference, the interim results of the research project “War and Human Capital: Resilience, Coping Strategies, and Healthcare System Recovery” were presented. This project is implemented by KMU with the support of the World Health Organization. The research team includes KMU President Oleksandr POKANEVYCH, Professor of the Department of Public Health and Microbiology at KMU Radmyla HREVTSOVA (Principal Investigator), healthcare expert and project co-investigator Liubov HURA, who presented the project, and other scientists and practitioners from Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

A logical response from the university to contemporary challenges and market demands was the introduction of KMU’s new Master’s program, “Management of Healthcare Institutions,” which was also introduced to the participants. Among the key advantages of the program are learning through real-life management case studies, mastering change management tools, budgeting for healthcare institutions, methods for attracting investment, and the specifics of effective interaction with the NHSU. Furthermore, students of the program receive ready-to-use legal safety algorithms for medical facility operations and the protection of its management, alongside opportunities for powerful professional networking.

Historical Heritage as the Foundation of Humanism

A special highlight of the conference was a tour of the unique Museum of the History of Medicine, guided by Ivan SOROKA, Director of the Institute for Research on the History of Medicine, a subdivision of KMU.

This journey into the past did not merely demonstrate the evolution of medical science from ancient healing to high-tech treatment; it reminded all participants of the deep roots and continuity of the traditions of humanism, which remain the foundation of the philosophy protecting the rights of both doctors and patients today.

Session Two: Triadic Space of Trust and Legal Support for Rehabilitation

During the second session (moderated by the Head of the International Charity Organization “Kindness of Hearts” Anna HALETA and KMU Vice-Rector Radmyla HREVTSOVA), the discussion shifted toward the practical interaction among subjects of medical law and the development of modern health recovery systems:

• Valentyna OCHERETENKO (Chair of the Board of the Ukrainian Diabetes Federation) raised a crucial ethical and legal question: how to build a triad of trust between the doctor, the pharmacist, and the patient living with diabetes, viewed through the lens of shared responsibility for treatment outcomes.
• Anna HALETA (Founder and Head of the ICO “Kindness of Hearts”) drew attention to the architecture of modern rehabilitation, proposing solutions on how to simultaneously protect the rights of the recovering patient and the medical professional or rehabilitation specialist working directly with them.
• Nataliia KONDRATIUK (Associate Professor of the Department of Public Health and Microbiology at KMU, Head of the Scientific Department of Healthcare Organization of the State Management of Affairs of Ukraine) directed the discussion toward veteran policy. She provided a detailed analysis of the nuances of medical rehabilitation for veterans, where the legal protection of all parties serves as the foundation for the successful return of service members to civilian life.
• Tetiana VORONTSOVA (Doctor, Volunteer, President of the Rivne Interregional Medical Cluster, Chair of the NGO “RivneTakMed”) expanded the scope of the discussion to the regional level, proving in practice that creating medical clusters opens up new opportunities for healthcare institutions, including strengthening their protection and development.
• Oksana DVIRSKA (Doctor, Lawyer, Head of the Internship Department of the Faculty of Continuous Professional Medical Development at KMU) outlined the legal boundaries and “pitfalls” of digital marketing, which, if misused, can turn into a serious risk zone for clinics as well as medical and pharmaceutical workers.

Session Three: Interdisciplinary Safety Standards, Mental Resources, and Global Experience

The focus of the speakers in the third session (moderated by KMU Vice-Rector Radmyla HREVTSOVA and Head of the Department of Therapeutic Stomatology, Periodontology, and Pediatric Therapeutic Stomatology at KMU Oksana KOPCHAK) turned to issues that until now have rarely been examined through the lens of legal regulation:

• Oksana VOLOSHYNA (Psychologist, Somnotherapist, Chair of the NGO “Institute of Sleep Disorders and Psychotraumatic Disorders,” Lviv) made an important point by examining the topic of sleep disorders as a hidden yet highly dangerous zone of clinical and legal risks.
• Oleksandr STRAZHNYI (Psychiatrist, Chair of the Board of the NGO “Institute of Biopsychocative Psychotherapy”) outlined pressing issues regarding the legalization of Ukrainian psychotherapeutic methods and the protection of intellectual property rights for domestic developers.
• Andrii KOPCHAK (Professor, Director of the Research and Training Institute of Stomatology at the Bogomolets National Medical University) summarized the strategic direction of the entire conference by presenting the experience of developing the professional standard for “Maxillofacial Surgery.” He clearly demonstrated what foreign specialists can learn from their Ukrainian colleagues, and, at the same time, how adapting the best European and global practices allows for the creation of a reliable legal shield for Ukrainian physicians.

Consolidation of Efforts and a Roadmap for the Future

Participants managed not only to exchange experiences but also to provide concrete proposals for a roadmap of legislative, practical, and educational initiatives. This synergy of law, clinical practice, science, and spirituality proved that protecting those who heal can only be achieved through joint, coordinated efforts.

Kyiv Medical University expresses its sincere gratitude to all participants, speakers, moderators, and the organizations whose support made the event possible – the Ukrainian Medical Club, the International Association of Medical Law, and the International Charitable Organization “Kindness of Hearts”– for their fruitful work and significant contribution to shaping a safe legal environment for Ukrainian medical and pharmaceutical workers.

Currently, the organizing committee is finalizing the resolution of the conference and is already beginning preparations for the upcoming meetings.

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Короленко

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