ReAct Project: Building resilience against AMR amid conflict in Ukraine
Share the article
2025-09-26
Armed conflict puts enormous pressure on health systems and accelerates the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In Ukraine, pan-resistant and multidrug-resistant infections are increasingly reported among patients. ReAct is now launching a new collaboration to support Ukraine’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), in partnership with Swedish and Ukrainian institutions. The project will strengthen infection prevention, raise awareness, and build long-term healthcare capacity.
Photo: Shutterstock.
Armed conflict takes a heavy toll on health systems. It disrupts access to care, increases the risk of infection, and creates conditions that accelerate the development and spread of resistant bacteria. In Ukraine, the full-scale invasion has brought this global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) into sharp focus. Studies have found pan-resistant bacteria bacteria that no available antibiotics can treat, among war-wounded patients as well as high levels of multi-drug resistance in general hospitals, underscoring the need to scale up action.
Ukrainian government identified AMR as a threat to public health
The Ukrainian government has identified AMR as a serious cross-sectoral threat to public health and sustainable development and has adopted a renewed action plan that builds on earlier efforts including surveillance, lab capacity building, and updated treatment protocols.
Launching project to support Ukraine’s National Action Plan on AMR
In 2025 ReAct launches a new collaboration in support of Ukraine’s National Action Plan on AMR. The collaboration is done in close partnership with Swedish Public Health Agency and Swedish and Ukrainian institutions and actors and falls under the Swedish program for support to Ukraine in the sectors of health, healthcare and social policy 2025–2027.
Anna Sjöblom, Director, ReAct Europe. Photo: Therese Holm, ReAct Europe
“ReAct has an extensive experience in supporting the implementation of national action plans around the world. This knowledge will be valuable in collaboration with Ukraine, for strengthening infection prevention and control capacity and equipping both the current and future healthcare workforce with the tools they need to prevent the development and spread of antibiotic resistance.”
says, Anna Sjöblom, Director ReAct Europe.
ReAct’s work will focus on supporting three strategic goals from Ukraine’s AMR action plan:
strengthening infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities
raising awareness among professionals and the public
and building human resource capacity through education, research and scientific collaboration.
Activities will include adapting and delivering training, creating awareness-raising initiatives, and facilitating academic exchanges between institutions and in Ukraine and Sweden.
A range of actors within the Ukrainian health system and society at large will benefit from this work. This includes medical professionals, students, and educators who will receive training and resources, as well as patients and communities who will ultimately benefit from stronger infection prevention and control measures.
While the project is still in start-up phase, the long-term goal is to support a sustained, locally led response to AMR in Ukraine that builds on national priorities and addresses the challenges exacerbated by the full-scale invasion.
