We share our impressions of this year’s Summer School in Lugano
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For the second decade, the Lugano Summer School creates space with quality plenary sessions and powerful networking that motivates development. At the event, healthcare professionals from around the world improve their knowledge and share their experiences, focusing on healthcare policies, economics and management. And a nice bonus — the school helps theory and practice in the health sector to be inseparable.
At this year’s event Ukraine was represented by Pavlo Kovtoniuk, co-founder of the Ukrainian Healthcare Center (UHC). Pavlo spoke about Russia’s attacks on the Ukrainian healthcare system: “Ukraine’s healthcare is being deliberately destroyed, which leads to a massive loss of human capital. This is what we have to reconstruct in the first place when this war is over. Russia has not achieved military success, but its tactics are creating a humanitarian catastrophe: 203 healthcare facilities have been damaged in 179 days of war. Many Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes. Despite the fact that some people have returned, some still remain outside Ukraine. This is a huge loss of human capital. Russia is depopulating our territories. We must win this war to be able to rebuild Ukraine after the war. After the victory we will need investments, which are important to invest not only in buildings but also in people”.
Natalia Riabtseva, co-founder of UHC, spoke about building sustainability in healthcare financing reform: “During the financing reform, we created the National Health Service of Ukraine. For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the state engaged private providers for the state budget and was able to enter into direct contracts with healthcare providers without any intermediate structure or body. The NHSU managed to introduce a new payment mechanism — when money follows patients. During the full-scale invasion, we have seen how our healthcare system has survived and is functioning. In the future, this potential needs to be developed, the post-war period is a very good time for this.”
Among the Summer School’s participants from Ukraine were educators from Bukovinian medical universities — Olena Korotun and Oksana Petrynych, as well as a facilitator of medical peer groups from Rivne Kateryna Pochtar. We share the impressions of the participants:
- “In addition to the interesting content of plenary lectures and courses, it was extremely valuable to work with experts from around the world, as well as their support for Ukraine. As an educator, it was important for me to analyze and compare teaching methods,” comments Olena Korotun.
- “The Summer School in Lugano is a unique platform for obtaining quality education and filling your own resources. This event is about the atmosphere of mutual support and exchange of experience. This place inspires new ideas and gives faith in a better future. Ukraine was mentioned constantly: during plenary lectures, in educational courses, at the organized cultural evening dedicated to the Independence Day of Ukraine, in daily conversations. Participants from different countries of the world decorated their clothes with Ukrainian symbols, took pictures with our flag. It was invaluable!” Oksana Petrynych shares.
- “I was taking a course on mental health. This topic is very relevant for Ukraine, which is in a state of war. The Armed Forces are fighting at the front, and we, doctors, have to provide the best psychological support to the population in the rear. Summer school in Lugano is a great opportunity to talk about the war in Ukraine. People from other countries heard us, Ukraine is really supported by the whole world!” Kateryna Pochtar said.