Norway receives award for the evacuation of Ukrainian patients to Norway and other European countries
Press release | No: 58 – 2024 | Date: 04/06/2024 | Last updated: 17/06/2024 | Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and Care Services
Since August 2022, Norway has offered regular weekly flights to European countries to evacuate Ukrainian patients. The European Commission has described the flights as a mainstay of Europe’s civilian support to Ukraine. Today, Norway together with Germany will receive an award for its efforts.
“Since the medical evacuations started up in 2022, Norway has helped transport almost 2,500 patients and next-of-kin. The evacuation scheme has been described as a mainstay in the medical evacuation of Ukrainian patients and is an example of Norway shouldering its share of the international burden,” says Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl.
The evacuation of Ukrainian citizens in need of medical care is taking place under the auspices of the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). Norway has participated in the UCPM as a full member since its inception in the early 2000s.
“The ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine are very intense and brutal, taking Ukrainian lives and causing many injuries among both civilians and soldiers. This is placing great pressure on the Ukrainian healthcare system, which must also provide care for those needing medical care for other reasons. Norway’s contribution providing medical evacuation to European hospitals is an important part of relieving the Ukrainian healthcare system, and the work means a lot to the individuals concerned. The Norwegian personnel are doing an outstanding job that is helping save lives,” says Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram.
“I'm proud of the work that Norway is doing to assist the Ukrainian health service. Since the start of the war, our health service has shown great ability and willingness to provide high-quality treatment to patients from Ukraine. Norwegian society takes good care of these patients, and we will continue to do so,” says Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre.
The award is being presented to Norway at this year’s Civil Protection Forum. This forum brings together civil protection communities from public and private sectors and is the most important meeting place for public safety and emergency response matters in Europe.
The Norwegian evacuation is a collaboration between several ministries, the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB), the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the regional health authorities, the authorities for immigration and integration, the Norwegian Armed Forces and the airline SAS.
So far, Norway is the only country providing regular medical evacuation by air on behalf of other European countries. Many countries have capacity for treating patients in hospitals but lack suitable transport options. Medical evacuation of patients relieves Ukrainian health services and helps ensure that available hospital capacity in Europe is utilised.