On July 23, 2025, Odesa's Deputy Mayor Pavlo Vugelman held a final working meeting with representatives of the French delegation – the team from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Expertise France, and technical advisors.
The French delegation included: the head of the AFD Ukraine office, Ms. Axelle Nos, Yara El Eleywa Le Corff, Hanna Niemtsova, Elsa Negre, Marge Barradas Machin, and Mathieu Radoube.
During the meeting, the parties discussed key steps for the implementation of a joint project aimed at transforming the city's medical infrastructure. The French side presented a comprehensive vision for the initiative, including detailed funding allocations for each medical institution (hospitals No. 1, 5, 10, and 11), and outlined the next steps and timelines for project approval.
Pavlo Vugelman emphasized that the implementation of this project is extremely relevant for the city, as it concerns not only the modernization of hospitals but also a comprehensive upgrade of medical facilities in accordance with European standards.
«The implementation of this project is fundamentally important for Odesa. We are not just talking about upgrading infrastructure or purchasing modern equipment, but about a deep, systemic transformation of urban medical facilities in line with the best European standards. We aim to create an accessible, high-quality, and efficient healthcare system that meets modern challenges and expectations of our citizens. Therefore, cooperation with reliable partners like AFD and Expertise France is extremely valuable and strategic for us» — stressed the Deputy Mayor.
Ms. Axelle Nos, in turn, confirmed the strategic importance of this project for both AFD and the French Republic. She noted that the initiative has received support at the level of the European Commission, opening up opportunities for attracting grant financing that will significantly ease the burden on the city budget.
«There is still much technical and coordination work ahead, but we are confident that full implementation will begin as early as the start of 2026» — stated Ms. Nos.
The Odesa City Council expresses gratitude to the French partners for their consistent support, constructive dialogue, and shared vision for the future systematic development of the city's medical sector.
