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November 2026Lviv, Ukraine

A Step Forward for Every Patient

2026The First National Summit on Advancing Burn Care in Ukraine

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Organised by

Burn Care Alliancean initiative of the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine

Main Partners

  • Ministry of Health of Ukraine
  • Government of the Netherlands
  • Direct Relief
  • European Burns Association (EBA)

Event Partners

  • Kerecis
  • Enabel
  • Nova Ukraine

About the Event

The Next Step Forward for Burn Care in Ukraine

FOR/WARD 2026 brings together those driving change: Ukrainian and international burn care specialists, government representatives, and partner organisations. Together, they will shape a shared vision for the future of burn care in Ukraine.

  • ×2.5nearly 2.5-fold increase in burn-related hospitalisations between 2021 and 2025
  • ×16more than 16-fold rise in cases of extensive burns (affecting more than 50% of total body surface area)
  • 47.18%in-hospital mortality rate among patients with extensive burns in the first nine months of 2026

The war has presented unprecedented challenges to Ukraine’s burn care system. Between 2021 and 2025, burn-related hospitalisations increased nearly 2.5-fold, while cases of extensive burns (affecting more than 50% of total body surface area) rose more than 16-fold. In the first nine months of 2026, the in-hospital mortality rate among patients with extensive burns reached 47.18%. Addressing these challenges requires a united effort from healthcare professionals, medical institutions, government authorities, and international partners.

The summit’s key outcome will be a jointly developed strategic document outlining the vision, priorities, and concrete steps needed to advance burn care in Ukraine.

Organisers and Partners

The event is organised by Burn Care Alliance, an initiative of the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Government of the Netherlands through the Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF4) programme, the European Burns Association (EBA), and Direct Relief. Event partners: Kerecis, Enabel, and Nova Ukraine.

The NameWhy FOR/WARD?

FORWARD
moving ahead.
WARD
the burn care unit, where healthcare professionals work every day to save lives and support patients on their journey to recovery.
2026
the starting point for a new chapter of collective action.

FOR/WARD — A Step Forward for Every Patient.

The Name

Why FOR/WARD?

FORWARD
moving ahead.
WARD
the burn care unit, where healthcare professionals work every day to save lives and support patients on their journey to recovery.
2026
the starting point for a new chapter of collective action.

FOR/WARD brings together two dimensions of change: the daily work of healthcare professionals at the patient’s bedside and the future of the healthcare system they are helping to build.

The arrow between FOR and WARD symbolises progress driven by collaboration. Meaningful change begins when individual expertise becomes a collective force.

FOR/WARD — A Step Forward for Every Patient.

Key Facts

5

days

8

countries

100+

experts

Changemakers

Changemakers

FOR/WARD 2026 brings together people whose daily work, research, and decisions are already transforming burn care.

Healthcare professionals, researchers, representatives of professional associations, and government institutions will come together to exchange expertise, develop shared solutions, and define the next steps in advancing burn care in Ukraine.

Clemens Schiestl
Ingo Königs
Fredrik Huss
Luís Cabral
David R. Schieffelers
Nadia Depetris
Henry Thomas Marsh

Clemens Schiestl

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Former President of the European Burns Association (EBA)

Switzerland

Programme

Summit Programme

  1. Visits to Ukrainian Burn Centres

    International experts will gain first-hand insight into the work of Ukraine’s leading burn centres. These visits will provide a practical foundation for the discussions and strategic planning that follow.

  2. Strategic Sessions

    Participants will work together to develop the key sections of the strategic document, identify priorities, and define solutions tailored to the realities and needs of Ukraine’s healthcare system.

  3. Symposium

    More than 100 burn care professionals from Ukraine and around the world will gather for the presentation of the strategic document and a discussion of the next steps towards its implementation.

Outcomes

An Outcome That Will Shape the Future of Burn Care in Ukraine

The main outcome of FOR/WARD 2026 will be an official strategic document that unites the professional community around long-term goals, establishes shared priorities, and lays the foundation for coordinated action beyond the summit.

“Strategic Vision for the Development of the Burn Care System in Ukraine, 2026–2031”. The document will be available for download following its approval by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

Strategic document

Strategic Vision for the Development of the Burn Care System in Ukraine

2026–2031

Will be available for download following its approval by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine