![\"Memorandum\"](\"https:\/\/patients.org.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/lavra.jpg\")
Today, a\u00a0memorandum was signed between the Church, the state and patients regarding the inviolability of\u00a0the L.V. Gromashevskii Institute of\u00a0Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases in\u00a0the Kiev-Pecherska Lavra until the new premises for the clinic are completed.<\/p>\n
This document is\u00a0the result of\u00a0a\u00a0patient protest against the Decree of\u00a0the Cabinet of\u00a0Ministers of\u00a0Ukraine from July\u00a01, which ordered over the course of\u00a0a\u00a0week, that\u00a0is, until July\u00a08, to\u00a0evict the clinic and its patients from the premises in\u00a0which they are now receiving life-saving treatment.<\/p>\n
\u00abWe\u00a0were prepared to\u00a0chain ourselves to\u00a0the beds, only not to\u00a0allow them to\u00a0remove equipment from the clinic,<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 says Dmytro Sherembey<\/strong>, head of\u00a0the patient organization UCAB<\/strong> and a\u00a0patient of\u00a0the clinic. \u2014\u00a0After all, the only place that can accept patients is\u00a0the new clinic that is\u00a0being built on\u00a0Amosova St. In\u00a0no\u00a0other place was it\u00a0possible to\u00a0install equipment or\u00a0service the number of\u00a0patients, including intensive care units, that are currently in\u00a0the hospital. Therefore, we\u00a0hope that this memorandum between the Church, the state and the patients will put an\u00a0end to\u00a0any future infringement of\u00a0the clinic.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n Today, the Gromashevskii Clinic of\u00a0Infectious Diseases treats more than 9,000 patients from all of\u00a0Ukraine because its equipment, much of\u00a0which was purchased at\u00a0the expense of\u00a0foreign donors and foundations, is\u00a0unique. It\u00a0saves the lives of\u00a0thousands of\u00a0terminally ill Ukrainians annually. In\u00a0the past, concerts have been organized in\u00a0Kiev to\u00a0raise money for equipment at\u00a0the clinic, including performances by\u00a0Elton John and the majority of\u00a0Ukrainian stars.<\/p>\n The conflict around the clinic arose in\u00a02011, when the Academy of\u00a0Sciences of\u00a0Ukraine adopted a\u00a0resolution to\u00a0remove the hospital and relocate its parts to\u00a0various medical institutions. Since then, the clinic has been in\u00a0the midst of\u00a0constant conflicts. Only through loud protests and international pressure have patients managed to\u00a0assert their right to\u00a0treatment in\u00a0the clinic.<\/p>\n However, now the National Academy of\u00a0Medical Sciences of\u00a0Ukraine has come to\u00a0the defense of\u00a0patients. \u00abPatients will move from there, only if\u00a0there are new and better conditions for them and their treatment,\u00bb<\/em> said Acting President of\u00a0the Academy of\u00a0Medical Sciences of\u00a0Ukraine Valery Zaporozhan<\/strong>, signing the memorandum on\u00a0behalf of\u00a0the academy.<\/p>\n Clergymen also agreed to\u00a0wait until the new building, where the clinic should be\u00a0relocated, is\u00a0completed. \u00abThe Church has never cast anyone out,\u00bb \u2014 stated Archbishop Pavel, rector of\u00a0the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, at\u00a0a\u00a0press conference, sitting next to\u00a0a\u00a0patient in\u00a0a\u00a0hospital bed to\u00a0testify to\u00a0his support. \u00abSo\u00a0now we\u00a0are ready to\u00a0support patients in\u00a0our prayers as\u00a0well as\u00a0by\u00a0officially declaring our willingness to\u00a0wait for the transfer of\u00a0the hospital building to\u00a0the church, \u00bb – said the Archbishop.<\/p>\n Everything on\u00a0the memorandum was endorsed by\u00a0four parties: Archbishop Pavel, on\u00a0behalf of\u00a0the Church, Valery Zaporozhan, acting President of\u00a0the Academy of\u00a0Medical Sciences of\u00a0Ukraine\u00a0\u2014 representative of\u00a0the interests of\u00a0state authorities, Dmytro Sherembey, head of\u00a0patient organization UCAB, which protects the rights of\u00a0patients in\u00a0Ukraine, and Volodymyr Zhovtyak, the head of\u00a0The All-Ukrainian Network of\u00a0People Living with HIV\u00a0\/ AIDS\u00a0\u2014 the largest organization in\u00a0Ukraine that unites people living with HIV.<\/p>\n \u00abThe most important thing is\u00a0that all three parties involved finally announced a\u00a0consolidated position\u00a0\u2014 patients and staff will stay at\u00a0the Lavra until they accept the state of\u00a0readiness of\u00a0the new premises at\u00a0Amosov\u0430 street themselves and begin the procedure of\u00a0moving house. This is\u00a0a\u00a0big victory for the community of\u00a0people living with HIV in\u00a0Ukraine and for more than 9,000 patients of\u00a0the clinic, which now have a\u00a0documented proof that treatment will not be\u00a0interrupted and that they will be\u00a0able to\u00a0live,\u00bb<\/em> said the Chairman of\u00a0the Coordination Council of\u00a0the All-Ukrainian Network of\u00a0PLWH Vladimir Zhovtyak<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Under the terms of\u00a0the memorandum, patients, doctors and all the unique equipment that is\u00a0in\u00a0the clinic will be\u00a0transported to\u00a0a\u00a0new location at\u00a0the address: 5\u00a0Amosova St. Patients coming to\u00a0the hospital from other regions are already being warned of\u00a0the impending move and being reassured that the new clinic on\u00a0Amosova street will not give way to\u00a0the existing clinic and will be\u00a0able to\u00a0serve even more patients at\u00a0the same time.<\/p>\n