Ukraine Introduces Nationwide Trauma Care Network Inspired by Germany’s TraumaNetzwerk DGU Model

Nationwide Trauma Care System Modeled on German Standards

According to Міністерство Здоров'я: Health Minister Viktor Liashko unveiled a comprehensive plan to establish a unified trauma care system across Ukraine, drawing inspiration from Germany’s TraumaNetzwerk DGU framework. This initiative aims to develop a three-tiered network of trauma centers, standardize medical team training, and implement independent quality assessments. The first phase, scheduled for 2027, focuses on creating regulatory guidelines, preparing healthcare teams, and conducting pilot audits.

Organization of the Trauma Care Network

The system will be structured into local, regional, and supra-regional trauma centers, each with distinct roles:

• Local centers will provide primary care, patient stabilization, and treatment for moderate injuries.
• Regional centers will deliver 24/7 critical care for severe trauma cases, including surgical interventions.
• Supra-regional centers will specialize in managing the most complex injuries, coordinate the network, oversee specialist training, and engage in research activities.

Certification of trauma centers will follow the German TraumaNetzwerk DGU standards. Additionally, burn units and spinal injury treatment centers will be integrated into this network.

“Our country boasts highly skilled professionals and hospitals experienced in treating the most challenging injuries, including combat-related trauma. The next step is to unify these resources into a single coordinated system, so emergency teams clearly know where to transport patients and hospitals are fully prepared with expert teams ready to provide care. This approach will reduce time to critical intervention and lower preventable deaths and complications,”

- Viktor Liashko

The collaboration with Germany was initiated through agreements between Ukraine’s Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Ukraine has received support in adapting German expertise to build its trauma care system. Subsequent detailed discussions have continued at the health ministry level in both countries. According to Ukraine’s electronic health system data, approximately 960,000 patients with various injuries were treated in Ukrainian hospitals in 2025.

Implementing this new trauma care framework marks a significant advancement in modernizing Ukraine’s healthcare system. The adoption of the German model is expected to enhance treatment effectiveness, reduce mortality rates from injuries, and establish quality and coordination standards among medical facilities. Given the high incidence of trauma, especially due to ongoing conflict, this development holds the potential to substantially improve health outcomes nationwide.