Today in Ukraine there exists a number of pathologies which our medicine is unable to treat. We have no facilities exercising marrow transplantation from a non-related donor, some kinds of plastic surgeries, oncological neurosurgeries, reconstructive orthopedy, arterial and periferal vascular surgeries. Perinathal diagnosing, as well as detection of immune, hereditary, and endocrine diseases, are also far behind the modern level. There exist certain problems with kidney transplantation on children, etc.

Unfortunately, economic, social, ecological, and other challenges our state is facing on its making couldn’t but affect the health condition of the younger generation. In part, infants’ health is deteriorating; there are no signs of decrease in the number of serious chronic diseases; the level of oncohematological and oncological diseases and disabilities in children remains high. In the last five years infant mortality level has also raised.

Ukraine ranks last among the European countries in terms of health and birth rate and first in terms of mortality rate, infant mortality included. By the data of the Health Ministry of Ukraine, mortality rate among babies under one year of age is 3-4 times higher than that in the EU countries, with maternal mortality also remaining high compared to the European countries. Considering this demographic situation, every pregnancy, as well as the life and health of every child, should be a subject of the state’s strategic interest.

In an attempt to improve the situation around protecting the health of mothers and children in Ukraine and help the children compelled to stay on a waiting list for treatment abroad for years or requiring complicated surgical operations, the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation has initiated the creation of the All-Ukrainian Health Protection Center for Mothers and Children, the Children’s Hospital of the Future.

Children’s and juveniles’ health should be in the limelight of attention for our community today and in the future. Besides, the effort of all bodies and institutions dealing with protection of mothers and children should be focused on further implementation of effective medical and organizational technologies, securing healthy life start for the infants, etc.

To improve the situation in the mothers and children health protection, the Presidential Decree No 1694/2005 of December 6, 2005, On Urgent Measures to Reform the Healthcare System, was issued, envisaging the creation of the All-Ukrainian Health Protection Center for Mothers and Children. The explanatory note for the Decree says that “creating and constructing a modern medical institution of a European level will allow to create a multi-type children’s hospital, accumulating human and material resources, implementing highly effective technologies, and securing a high level of the treatment and diagnosing process.”

January 20, 2006, a meeting of a working group was held, consisting of fifteen people: Deputy Health Minister, leaders of the Administrative Department of Ukraine, leading specialists and chief specialists of the Health Ministry of Ukraine. Three proposals were considered (with the capacity of 300 beds each):

1. Ukrainian Children’s Oncology Center
2. Ukrainian Perinathal Center
3. National Health Protection Center for Mothers and Children

The latter project was selected as the moist urgent and universal, since it combines all the necessary parts: general pediatrics and surgery, oncology/oncohematology, and a perinathal center. The Center’s purpose is rendering fully qualified medical assistance to children from throughout Ukraine applying progressive technologies.

On March 16, 2006, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation Kateryna Yushchenko laid a capsule in the foundation of the hospital in Feofaniya, on the site of the future Center. She said, “Today we are making the first step to make our greatest dream come true: constructing a modern, Europe’s best clinics for Ukrainian children.”

October 19, 2006, the Contemporary Problems in Clinical Pediatrics Third Congress of Ukrainian Pediatricians unanimously adopted a resolution to support the creation of the Children’s Hospital of the Future by all children’s doctors in Ukraine.

The Children’s Hospital of the Future is planned to be constructed by 2009. Its estimated cost is UAH 600,000,000 ($120,000,000). This is the biggest charitable project in Ukraine’s history.

The construction of the All-Ukrainian Health Protection Center for Mothers and Children (the Children’s Hospital of the Future in Kyiv) is also envisaged by the Cabinet Decision No. 722 of May 25, 2006, and Clause 17 of the Universal of National Unity.