# Resilient Laboratories: Strengthening Disease Detection Despite Years of War in Ukraine

Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Global Fund has disbursed US$275 million to support national and local partners to deliver essential health services, respond to disease threats and reach vulnerable populations with lifesaving care.

The resilience of Ukraine's laboratory network is one example of the impact of these investments. Despite relentless attacks, mass displacement and immense pressure on health services, laboratories across Ukraine have continued to operate, ensuring timely diagnosis and helping prevent the spread of deadly diseases within the country and beyond.

At the heart of this effort is a national TB laboratory network of 224 laboratories run by the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health with sustained support from the Global Fund. These facilities are equipped with modern diagnostic technologies, including rapid molecular testing tools such as GeneXpert, automated systems for growing and identifying TB bacteria, laboratory information systems, and specimen referral and transport networks.

To reach people in areas most affected by the war, mobile teams travel to towns and villages where access to health services has been disrupted. They collect biological samples and transport them to laboratories for rapid analysis, helping ensure that diagnosis and treatment are not delayed.

In Kharkiv, a city in one of the regions hit hardest by the fighting, the main laboratory conducted more than 11,400 TB tests in 2025. Hundreds of people were diagnosed with TB and rapidly linked to treatment, helping stop transmission before it could spread further.

Across Ukraine in 2025, 96% of newly detected TB cases were diagnosed using rapid molecular diagnostics, while 90% of confirmed cases were tested for drug resistance, meeting WHO targets for patients to receive effective, targeted treatment from the outset.

By maintaining and developing a nationwide laboratory network throughout the war, Ukraine is saving lives and strengthening its preparedness for future health threats. Its experience underscores the importance of resilient health systems during conflict, when disease risks are heightened, and health services are under pressure.