Ukraine receives Japan-backed $51.5 million after meeting stroke treatment target
Ukraine has received a $51.5 million World Bank payment backed by Japan after meeting a health care reform target aimed at improving hospital treatment for stroke patients.
The payment was triggered by an increase in the number of stroke cases treated at hospitals with high use of thrombolysis, a treatment that dissolves blood clots, Ukraine's Finance Ministry said.
The funding was provided by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the ADVANCE Ukraine trust fund with financial support from the Japanese government.
The payment is part of the $1.2 billion Transforming Healthcare through Reform and Investments in Efficiency, or THRIVE, program, which links funding to Ukraine's achievement of specific health care reform targets.
Ukraine has received $449 million under the program so far.
THRIVE aims to improve the efficiency of Ukraine's medical system, including by prioritizing health care services, optimizing the hospital network, introducing new payment mechanisms and strengthening the institutional capacity of the National Health Service of Ukraine.
The program includes 10 performance indicators covering areas such as primary health care funding, hospital contracting, health care data, treatment of hypertension and the use of solar energy in the health sector.
Ukraine's Health Ministry is responsible for implementing and monitoring the program, which is scheduled to run through March 30, 2028.