Sweden is increasing its financial commitment to Ukraine, allocating 129.5 million Swedish krona (approximately $12.5 million USD) to bolster the country’s healthcare, social services, and elder care systems. The decision, announced on Tuesday by the Swedish Social Department, builds upon existing cooperation agreements between Sweden and Ukraine focused on health and social policy.
The funding will be channeled through Sweden’s international development cooperation agency, Sida, and administered in partnership with Socialstyrelsen, the Swedish Health and Social Care Inspectorate. The program will run from 2025 through 2027, providing expert support and facilitating experience-sharing between Swedish and Ukrainian authorities.
“Sweden is a steadfast partner to Ukraine, and our support is long-term,” stated Swedish Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed in a press release. “Through this program, we are contributing to support that is based on actual needs, within healthcare, social services, pharmaceutical supply, and antimicrobial resistance – and which strengthens both reform efforts and Ukraine’s path towards the EU.”
The expanded program will address several key areas, including efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, facilitate collaboration between Swedish and Ukrainian hospitals, and navigate regulatory issues related to pharmaceuticals. It will also focus on strengthening family-based care for children and youth within Ukraine’s social services, as well as the overall development of social services infrastructure.
A significant component of the latest funding will be dedicated to improving Ukraine’s elder care system, drawing on Swedish expertise in the field. Minister for Elderly Care and Social Security Anna Tenje emphasized the potential for mutual learning, stating, “I am proud that Swedish knowledge and experience can inspire Ukraine’s elder care. We are also taking with us incredibly critical lessons from Ukraine about how to prepare Swedish elder care for war and crisis.”
The increased support comes as Russia continues its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations such as children, people with disabilities, and the elderly, according to Minister for Social Affairs Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. “By exchanging experiences and strengthening capacity and competence, particularly within social services, we are sending a clear signal: Sweden stands with the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes,” she said.
The initiative is aligned with Sweden’s broader strategy for reconstruction and reform cooperation with Ukraine, spanning 2023-2027, and is being implemented in collaboration with Sida, the Swedish Institute, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (FBA). FBA is tasked with contributing to Ukraine’s EU integration, a key element in establishing long-term peace and security, according to the agency’s website.
Liberal Party’s foreign policy spokesperson Fredrik Malm added that the program will strengthen Ukrainian welfare, protect the most vulnerable, and support the country’s integration into the European Union.
