The 11th Congress of Infectious Disease Specialists of Ukraine is being held in Lviv Region, dedicated to current threats to infection safety in wartime conditions. Participants emphasise that alongside the fighting on the front line there is another front – infectious complications in the wounded, bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the risk of outbreaks of dangerous diseases.
Approximately 10,000 participants have joined the congress in both online and offline formats. Taking part in the event are infectious disease physicians, epidemiologists, researchers and international experts, who are jointly seeking solutions to strengthen patient safety and the healthcare system as a whole.
Special mention was made of the contribution of the President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Infectious Disease Specialists, Olha Holubovska, in particular her principled stance at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and her persistence in changing approaches to treatment and attitudes towards patients. It was stressed that it is precisely the proactive stance of such specialists that enables Ukrainian medicine and science to develop.
There are currently 171 infectious disease physicians working in Lviv Region, and 783 infectious disease beds have been made available in the region. Since the start of the full-scale war, more than 114 million hryvnias have been allocated from the regional budget to support the infectious disease field: the development of specialised medical facilities, as well as the Centre for Microbiological Research. The authorities state that funding for this area will continue.
According to the outcomes of the discussions, infection safety must be one of the priorities not only at state level, but also at the level of communities, districts and regions. Further investment is needed in scientific research, professional training, modern diagnostics and hospital preparedness for possible challenges. Participants stress that it is impossible to foresee all threats; however, the task of the medical community and the authorities is to do everything possible to ensure that new challenges do not catch the country unawares.