Solutions to win: Ukraine to keep adopting NATO military medicine standards

The Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine, Natalia Kalmykova, and an advisor to the US Defense Minister discussed cooperation between the two countries in areas such as military medicine, adoption of advanced technologies, provision of military–technical aid, and training for Ukrainian specialists.

The press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported this.

What is the problem?

A full-blown war with Russia is fierce. And even though Ukrainian high-ranking officials hardly ever acknowledge the number of losses in the Ukrainian army, the increasing number of service members seeking medical assistance serves as evidence of the savage and intense fighting. Providing timely and adequate military medical care saves soldiers' lives. That is why Ukraine strives to develop and follow NATO standards in this field.

• One primary reason for this is to improve the quality of care and treatment for wounded soldiers. Adopting NATO standards would ensure that Ukrainian military medical personnel are trained and equipped to provide the best possible care for injured soldiers on the battlefield. These standards encompass medical procedures, equipment, protocols, and training, all essential for the efficient and effective treatment of military personnel.
• Moreover, by implementing NATO standards, Ukrainian military medicine would also be aligned with international standards. This would make it easier for Ukrainian soldiers to receive medical assistance and treatment from other NATO member countries in case of serious injuries which could be crucial in cases where specialized treatment is required, and local resources may not be available.
• Additionally, the Ukrainian army must meet all NATO criteria, so it must be changed for full interoperability with partners.

Developing bilateral cooperation with the USA in the field of military medicine is also vital for Ukraine.

^{Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Natalia Kalmykova and adviser to the US Secretary of Defense, Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez / Ministry of Defense}

What is the solution?

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister, Natalia Kalmykova, and an advisor to the US Defense Minister discussed ways to enhance collaboration between the two nations in various areas, including:

• military medicine,
• the adoption of cutting-edge technologies,
• and offering military-technical assistance and training for Ukrainian experts.

At the meeting, Natalia Kalmykova discussed the current developments in military medicine. She stressed the importance of these changes in safeguarding the lives and health of Ukrainian soldiers on the front:

"We are still working on implementing NATO standards. We have approved the provision of pre-medical care for different levels of military training and determined the contents of first-aid kits and shoulder bags for combat medics. Developing a joint medical system combining civilian and military medicine is ongoing. More and more Ukrainian doctors are being trained according to modern standards."

For reference:

On September 30, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal signed Ukraine's application for accelerated accession to NATO.

Already this year, a summit of NATO countries took place in Vilnius on July 11 and 12, and Ukraine was one of the main topics.

In the final communique of the summit, published on the Alliance's website, the heads of state and government of the North Atlantic Alliance recognized Ukraine's progress on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration. They confirmed that Ukraine's future lies with NATO.

In addition, despite Russia's full-scale aggression and the daily challenges of war, the Ministry of Defense continues to develop professional education in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The DEEP program of the North Atlantic Alliance, through which 12 thousand servicemen of our army have already passed, helps him in this.

In general, three things are essential for Ukraine to join NATO:

• civil democratic control,
• transparency of procedures,
• joint planning of military operations.

Kyiv plans to implement 30-35% of the Alliance's standards by the end of the year.

The Ministry of Defense and Ukraine's armed forces have implemented 322 NATO standards, and another 50 are at the implementation stage. In total, 1135 standards are in force in the Alliance.