An event devoted to the integration of the WHO mhGAP Program into higher medical education in Ukraine was held in Kyiv. It was attended by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the World Health Organization, representatives of diplomatic missions of Canada and the Netherlands, international partners and rectors of medical universities. This is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Health.
During the meeting, the first results and next steps regarding the implementation of mental health services at all levels of medical care were discussed, as well as the role of universities in this process. The central moment of the event was the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the integration of the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Program (mhGAP) into the higher medical education of Ukraine.
The document was signed by the Deputy Minister of Health – Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Andriy Vitrenko, WHO representative in Ukraine Dr. Jarno Habikht, as well as rectors and representatives of 18 higher education institutions, including the National Medical University named after O.O. Bogomolets, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Kharkiv National Medical University, Dnipro State Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University and others. The memorandum remains open for signing by other organizations and partners.
This document lays the foundation for systematic work on updating educational standards, implementing innovative solutions in training and development of the professional community. The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and universities are intensifying joint activities to train future doctors in accordance with the best global practices and the needs of people in Ukraine.
“The integration of mhGAP into education is an important step for the comprehensive development of the mental health system at the national level. 360 teachers have received specialized training, new curricula have been developed, and from now on they will become part of the training of future doctors. Students will receive knowledge and skills to identify and support the mental health of their patients even during their basic studies at the university. This will strengthen the health care system with trained specialists, make it modern and needs-oriented people,” – noted Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine.
The integration of mhGAP will allow future doctors and specialists of the health care system to develop the necessary competencies to provide quality and evidence-based care in the field of mental health. This is especially important in the conditions of war, when the number of people with psychological trauma is increasing, and the availability of services needs to be significantly expanded.
To date, more than 133,000 doctors and medical specialists have successfully completed the first part of the online course with mhGAP on the platform of the Academy of National Health Service, and more than 87,000 medical workers have mastered the second level of training. Integration of the mhGAP program into higher medical education is carried out within the framework of cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and international partners. More than 360 teachers have already undergone specialized training, and standardized work curricula have been developed for universities, which begin the educational process.
