The GMKA Team's Research on Medical Evacuation of Ukrainian Cancer Patients Was Published in JCO Global Oncology
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered a major crisis in the healthcare system. Due to destroyed hospitals, a shortage of medical resources, and the constant threat of shelling, thousands of Ukrainians with cancer were left without essential therapies. To address this crisis, the European Commission and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine established the MedEvac program to transfer Ukrainian cancer patients to facilities in the European Union for continued treatment.
GMKA’s research team, in collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, has outlined the program’s structure and outcomes for the first time. The study was published in JCO Global Oncology. The manuscript provides valuable insights into the impact of international cooperation on cancer treatment during prolonged military conflict.
Key Figures and Facts
We analyzed data from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MOH) database (April 2022-April 2023), which contains applications for participation in the MedEvac program. Of the 639 applications, 53% provided sufficient information for analysis. Among these, 281 (82.9%) patients were evacuated to EU institutions, primarily for systemic cancer therapy.
Among the evacuees, the majority of patients were diagnosed with melanoma and breast cancer, while the fewest were diagnosed with head and neck cancer. The average age of evacuated patients was 47 years, and most (94%) were newly diagnosed with cancer.
The analysis revealed that the primary criterion for evacuation was the patient’s good performance status, as measured by the ECOG scale (0-2). Neither age nor comorbidities influenced the decision to evacuate.
Efficiency and Challenges of the MedEvac Program
The Medevac program has proven effective due to strong international cooperation, the involvement of supranational organizations, and well-defined patient selection criteria developed by experts from Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and the European Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC). These factors have enabled many Ukrainians with cancer to access specialized treatment during the ongoing war.
At the same time, the study identified several challenges that need to be addressed:
- Some applications lacked complete medical documentation, making it difficult to assess data and select patients.
- In some cases, patients concealed the severity of their condition to improve chances of selection, causing issues upon their arrival abroad.
- The lack of follow-up and treatment outcomes data limits a comprehensive assessment of the program’s effectiveness in terms of patient survival and quality of life.
- The influx of patients requiring advanced treatment has strained drug stocks in EU countries.
- As attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure escalate, medical needs are evolving, requiring the system to adapt to new challenges continuously.
Development Prospects
Despite the mentioned challenges, the MedEvac program has become a model of successful international cooperation in healthcare during wartime. With European support and coordination between the Ministry of Health, the EU, the ERCC, and WHO, patients were able to access essential treatment. The establishment of patient selection criteria and the development of an evacuation algorithm helped streamline and organize the process.
An important factor in the program’s success was the involvement of numerous organizations at both national and international levels, including EU medical institutions. This collaboration enabled the efficient organization of patient transportation and treatment.
The analysis highlights the need for further improvements to the program, particularly in data collection and adapting to evolving medical needs. The GMKA team’s research significantly contributes to developing long-term solutions to support cancer patients in conflict zones, and the MedEvac program can serve as a model for other initiatives to address healthcare challenges in crisis situations.
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