Friends!

Friends! Today I had the honor to participate in the second Ukrainian-Israeli medical conference. For over two years I have been representing the State of Israel in Western Ukraine. During this time, many different projects have been realized, some of which dealt with one of the most important topics for Ukraine - Health. These include: training of Israeli psychologists who shared the experience of rehabilitation of combatants, rest and recuperation of children of the soldiers who died in the Donbass in Israel, and provision of medical equipment for the hospital №5 in Lviv.

The theme of today's event was coronary heart disease. Over the past 40 years, mortality from cardiovascular disease in Israel decreased by 80%. Of a heart attacks in this country die only around 4.2% of the population, at the same time in Ukraine - 30%. I think it proves the benefit of the Israeli experience.

I know that the level of Ukrainian doctors is high. But lack of funding and lack of all necessary modern equipment impedes the development of this sphere. The State of Israel is a leading country in the world medicine. In some areas, it is generally ahead of the US and Germany. But these countries were the best of the best when Israel was only forming as country still. Immediately after gaining independence, Israel was declared war. And it still continues. The country had a reason to keep up with the advanced countries. But it did not happen.

Now Ukraine is experiencing a situation in which Israel was after the formation of the state. Here, almost every day there are people who die because of the war, receive serious injuries, require psychological rehabilitation. Israel has extensive experience in providing this kind of care, and it is the most important partner for Ukraine in this regard. Such conferences can provide serious tools to our physicians which will help to improve treatment in Ukraine.

Once again, I want to thank everybody in Israel who see Ukraine as a friend and partner. We should not take this support for granted. From myself and the Ukraine, I would like to say thank you.

The average life expectancy in Ukraine is the lowest in Europe. We must all strive to ensure that Ukrainian were healthier as a nation. I am confident that through the cooperation of Ukrainian doctors and Israeli colleagues Medicine of Ukraine in future will be able to reach the world level.