In May 2025, the State Institution “Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” (PHC), with the support of the iSoS partnership, become the first public health institution in Ukraine certified according to the international standard EN ISO 22301:2019 (Business Continuity Management Systems). It is particularly important to emphasize that this milestone was achieved amid a full-scale war.
On May 22, PHC officially received its certificate from the Canadian certification body MSECB. This accomplishment was made possible as result of the dedicated work of the PHC team and the support of the regional partnership iSoS — an initiative implemented by a consortium led by the Alliance for Public Health in partnership with the Social Equation Hub Foundation and funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
This certificate is not only a symbol of professionalism but also a powerful message for the entire public health sector — even during wartime, it is possible to lay the foundation for sustainable development and systemic change.
“The ISO 22301 certification of Ukraine’s Public Health Center for its business continuity management system is a testament to the dedication and strategic vision of its management and the team. Despite the immense challenges posed by the ongoing war, they have demonstrated exceptional resilience and professionalism. This achievement not only sets a new benchmark for public health institutions in Ukraine but also showcases the power of coordinated efforts and international partnerships in building robust and sustainable systems. The Center’s commitment to maintaining critical services under the most difficult circumstances is truly commendable and serves as an inspiration to all public health professionals and to the people whom we serve,” said Andreas Tamberg, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Achieving ISO 22301 certification is far from formality. It is international recognition of PHC’s ability to ensure the resilience, efficiency, and continuity of critical services, even under the most challenging conditions — during war, cyberattacks, or technical disruptions.
“To put it simply, the point of having a business continuity strategy is that, in the event of a cyberattack, shelling, or other crises, we automatically switch to backup servers — all data are preserved, and critical services move to remote mode. Our laboratories follow clear logistics and backup operation routes. That means even during the war, our processes continue uninterrupted. This combination of modern IT solutions and well-thought-out alternative scenarios ensures the security of strategic data, efficient use of resources, and most importantly — the protection of confidential information, which is critical to patient safety,” explains Hennadii Honak, Head of Internal audit department at PHC. “But the real value of the system lies not just in its initial implementation. In a world where new threats emerge every day, technologies change, and processes evolve, the hardest part is keeping the system alive and relevant. We’ve gone through a tough journey toward certification, and today our main task is to ensure ongoing risk analysis, team training, and adaptation. Maintaining this result is a day-to-day team effort that requires leadership, expert involvement, and strategic thinking.”
Regional partnerships: scale and impact
The iSoS regional partnership has become a vital platform for stimulating and supporting systemic changes across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The efforts of iSoS experts help not only to strengthen the resilience of national healthcare systems but also to establish new standards for the public sector throughout the EECA region.
“PHC’s certification is a remarkable example of the systemic transformation we support within the iSoS partnership. It’s not only about delivering services “here and now”, but about long-term resilience and institutional effectiveness across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This is a truly meaningful achievement for both Ukraine and the region — made possible thanks to the joint efforts of PHC, SEH, and the Alliance,” said Sergii Filippovych, iSoS Project Director at the Alliance for Public Health.
Supporting such initiatives is an investment in trust, effectiveness, and the system’s ability to respond to new challenges.
“PHC’s ISO 22301 certification has both national and regional significance. As a project partner, our team provided strategic support throughout the process — offering expertise not only for Ukraine, but also for Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan,” said Kateryna Ryzhkova-Siebeleva, Chair of the Board of the Social Equation Hub Foundation. “All of these countries, like Ukraine, face numerous risks — from conflict and migration crises to cyber threats and natural disasters. Our approach goes beyond technical assistance — we focus on building long-term partnerships that help public institutions and civil society enhance capacity and adopt international standards.”
Setting new standards in the public sector — what this means for Ukraine and its partners
ISO 22301 is more than just a certificate — it is proof of a healthcare system’s preparedness for any challenge.
- PHC’s services will remain available even in times of crisis.
- Critical processes will be preserved and restored without panic or chaos.
- Ukraine’s healthcare system has earned a new level of trust from international partners and donors.
- The ISO 22301 certificate is a symbol of resilience, predictability, and reliability of Ukrainian institutions.
This experience can be instrumental in developing guidelines and approaches for other government bodies and could contribute to the creation of internal continuity management standards across the public sector.
PHC noted that they will continue to improve the system, adapt it to new risks, and train their staff. Obtaining the certificate is just the beginning of a transformational journey that will continue.
This achievement is more than a certificate — it’s a sign that Ukraine is building strong and resilient institutions even in wartime. And international support — particularly through regional initiatives like the #SoS_project and #iSoS — plays a catalytic role in this process.
Olha Kovalenko, Business Continuity Manager at the Public Health Center, and Hennadii Honak, Head of the Internal Audit Department at the Public Health Center.