Ukraine: EU-supported hospital renovation completed in Odesa

City Clinical Hospital No. 8 — newly renovated under the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme — reopened in Odesa today, with about 46 300 city residents now able to benefit from improved medical services. The hospital can now serve 386 visitors a day, a 33% increase on its pre-renovation capacity.

The renovation is a joint initiative of the Ukrainian government, the European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB, the EU bank) and Odesa City Council, with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (UNDP).

Initiated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020, and persisting through the period of full-scale war, the reconstruction project overcame numerous obstacles as it moved forward. The endeavour was backed by a budget of about €1 million, with the EIB providing about €600 000 and the city of Odesa providing the remainder.

Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraine's Restoration and Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov emphasised the importance of cooperation with the European Union. “Despite the war and daily attacks, together with our international partners we’re building a new Ukraine — one that is modern and inclusive,” he said. “It’s important that the civilised world and progressive financial institutions are united by this idea. I’m grateful to the EU and its bank, the EIB, for their support. This is excellent work within the framework of the ‘We Build Ukraine,’ initiative, which unites international partners around the recovery of Ukraine.”

Ukrainian Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko said the renovation represents the power of collaborative efforts by the Ukrainian government, EIB and European Union, and shared financial commitments. “But beyond the numbers, the true value of this state-of-the-art facility lies in its life-saving potential,” he said. “Each life that this hospital saves, every Ukrainian life that it improves, has immeasurable worth. So we’re extremely grateful to our EIB and EU partners for helping to implement such projects.”

Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Olha Zykova added that addressing acute social problems in collaboration with international partners was of vital importance to Ukraine. “Thanks to the active role and support of the European Investment Bank, we’ve been able to implement another socially significant project,” she said. “The restoration of the City Clinical Hospital in Odesa is the product of our joint efforts to rebuild Ukraine.”

Head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Oleh Kiper said the re-opening of the hospital could not have come at a better time. “Since the onset of the full-scale conflict, Odesa has become a sanctuary for over 85 000 internally displaced persons,” he said. “In these times of great need, the restoration of this hospital represents a beacon of hope and resilience.”

Head of the Resident Representation of the EIB to Ukraine Jean-Erik de Zagon said the re-opening of Clinical Hospital No. 8 in Odesa symbolises the deeply rooted commitment of the EIB and European Union to investing in Ukrainian cities and the Ukrainian people on their path to EU accession. “We’re investing in local infrastructure for a better future for all, because we believe in the power of human potential and the enduring spirit of the Ukrainian people,” he said.

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Remi Duflot agreed, saying the hospital renovation was another important demonstration of the European Union’s steadfast support for Ukraine: “With the re-opening of this newly renovated hospital in Odesa, a city regularly under missile attacks by Russia, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to stand with Ukraine in its most challenging moments,” he said. “Ukraine was, is, and always will be an inseparable part of Europe, and we, the European Union, are here to help it in any way we can.”

UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine Jaco Cilliers thanked the EIB and the Odesa authorities. “Together with our esteemed partners we mark another milestone of collaborative triumph,” he said. “Today's celebration is not a standalone success but a testament to our enduring partnership with the people and government of Ukraine. Through our joint endeavours, we’re not merely inaugurating a renovated medical facility — we’re reaffirming our promise to leave no one behind. This is but a chapter in the greater narrative of our shared commitment, and we look forward to achieving many more.”

Background information:

The renovation of City Clinical Hospital No. 8 in Odesa was carried out under the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme (UERP), a €200 million multi-sectoral framework loan from the EIB. This loan empowers local authorities to renovate social infrastructure and improve the living conditions of internally displaced persons and their host communities. The Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine coordinates the UERP together with the Ministry of Finance. However, reconstruction projects are fully managed locally by local government bodies. The European Union funds technical assistance for the programme, including the support provided by UNDP in Ukraine.

The extensive refurbishment of the hospital involved a range of improvements:

• Strengthening the building foundations by dismantling and reconstructing them
• Reconstructing the brickwork and roof
• Replacing windows and doors, and installing facades and pedestal thermal insulation
• Redesigning the porches and paving the area around the clinic
• Renovating the premises, including by improving the water, lighting and power supply networks, and the sewerage system
• Installing sanitary ware, ventilation systems, electric convector heaters and fire alarm systems
• Carrying out interior finishing works, including floors and ceilings
• Ensuring access for people with disabilities and installing fire escapes
• Carrying out landscaping work.