Sweden increases support to child health care in Ukraine

In cooperation with the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital at Karolinska University Hospital, Beredskapslyftet supports children’s hospitals in Ukraine with necessary equipment and further training of care staff. This support plays an important role in strengthening Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russia’s aggression and continued Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

“The Government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed to increase Sweden’s support to children’s hospitals in Ukraine, and the Government intends to provide a new contribution to Beredskapslyftet of around SEK 20 million within the framework of assistance to Ukraine. The close cooperation between Karolinska University Hospital and the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital ensures that Ukrainian child health care services receive exactly the equipment and further training they need. The project has already made a huge difference for many sick and injured Ukrainian children. I hope that others in Sweden will now also contribute,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.

In mid-2024, Okhmatdyt in Kyiv, which is Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital, was hit by a Russian missile attack. Large parts of the hospital were destroyed. Beredskapslyftet immediately raised SEK 10 million from private Swedish foundations and businesses to support the hospital. The Government matched this with the announcement of a SEK 10 million contribution.

Child health care needs in Ukraine remain extensive and complex. For this reason, Beredskapslyftet together with Swedish business daily Dagens Industri is now raising money again, with almost SEK 20 million already having been donated by Swedish businesses, foundations and private individuals. The Government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed to provide around SEK 20 million, within the framework of Sweden’s overall assistance to Ukraine in 2026, to child health care in Ukraine via Beredskapslyftet. This initiative is an example of collaboration between government, business and civil society in Sweden to boost Ukraine’s reconstruction and resilience.