World Health Organization and I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University Strengthen Cooperation to Effectively Implement Global Nursing Standards

On April 27, 2026, Polina Huk, a Nursing and Midwifery Specialist at the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, met with the Rector of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Professor Petro Lykhatskyi. The meeting was also attended by Vice-Rector for Science and Education, Professor Arkadii Shulhai, and Director of the Educational and Research Institute of Nursing, Svitlana Danchak.

Polina Huk’s visit to TNMU was within the framework of the thematic training program “PEN Protocol for Primary Care Nurses,” currently being conducted at the university.

It is very important for us to have reliable partners with a strong reputation and a high level of educational services. TNMU, and particularly its Educational and Research Institute of Nursing, is such a partner, as it truly represents high quality and a European approach. This cooperation is important for us in order to demonstrate to other institutions a global model of nursing practice in various aspects,” Ms. Polina noted.

She added that participants of previous PEN protocol trainings reported noticeable improvements in their professional practice. In her opinion, it is essential to continue making every effort to strengthen the role of nurses as independent and highly qualified professionals within Ukraine’s healthcare system.

Rector Petro Lykhatskyi confirmed that the university is ready to remain a reliable platform for future WHO projects by providing its modern infrastructure and strong scientific potential.

The meeting concluded with an outline of a roadmap for new initiatives to bring Ukrainian medical education closer to global standards.