Lublin strengthens ties with Lviv! The medical sector business mission opens new opportunities in the Ukrainian market.

The mission program was very intensive and covered key aspects relevant to expanding into the Ukrainian market. Entrepreneurs had the opportunity to participate in the 29th “GalMED” Trade Fair and the Lviv Medical Forum—two of the leading industry events in Western Ukraine. B2B meetings at the fair enabled direct contact with potential distributors and business partners.

Particularly valuable were visits to Ukrainian medical facilities and rehabilitation centers, including two of the largest: UNBROKEN and Superhumans, as well as the NORIMED Rehabilitation Clinic (Норімед) and the “UP” Medical Center—both part of the CoMED medical hub (Комед), Sheptytsky Hospital, MedSpace Clinic, the International Posture Correction Center Gracja Academy, and the Department of Neurology at Lviv National Medical University. Participants had the chance to learn firsthand about the real needs of the Ukrainian healthcare system, especially regarding the treatment of war injuries and rehabilitation. These needs are immense, creating significant opportunities for Polish producers of modern rehabilitation equipment, biomaterials for wound and injury treatment, and other specialized medical devices and products.

The mission also included meetings with key institutions supporting Polish businesses in Ukraine: the Foreign Trade Office of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) in Lviv and the Ukrainian-Polish Business Development Center at KredoBank S.A. The support offerings—both institutional and financial—were presented, alongside discussions on investment prospects in the medical sector and the legal and regulatory aspects of entering the market, including medical device legalization. The resilience of the Ukrainian economy despite the war was emphasized, especially due to external funding of current budget needs and the availability of external financing for reconstruction.

The mission to Lviv confirmed that the Ukrainian market, despite wartime challenges, operates dynamically and generates enormous demand for modern medical technologies and products, particularly in rehabilitation and injury treatment, but not exclusively. Due to significant funds allocated to healthcare from national and local budgets as well as foreign sources, including charitable organizations and international projects, Ukrainian demand across the full spectrum of medical products is worthy of interest by Polish manufacturers. Lublin, thanks to its strategic location and active export support ecosystem and medical community, has a unique opportunity to become a key partner in the reconstruction and development of the Ukrainian healthcare sector — said Sławomir Roszczenko, coordinator of the Export Support Platform Lublin.

Participation in the mission allowed us to directly understand the specifics of the Ukrainian market and establish valuable contacts. Numerous meetings in clinics and rehabilitation centers such as UNBROKEN and Superhumans demonstrated how crucial our solutions are in the current situation and opened the way for potential cooperation — commented Bernard Gołko, CEO of QVITI S.A.

The economic mission to Lviv—an important partner city of Lublin—was the first foreign mission organized by the Export Support Platform Lublin and thus inaugurated a series of Platform activities aimed at supporting Polish companies in expanding into the promising Ukrainian market. The mission was actively attended by representatives of the following companies, presenting their solutions and establishing direct contacts: QVITI S.A. (neurostimulation) 🦾, Technomex Sp. Z o.o. (rehabilitation equipment), SpinVision Sp. z o.o. (spine rehabilitation with AI), and Ms. Katarzyna Szapował, Medical Industry Expert, Patient Support Manager at MSF (Doctors Without Borders). Additionally, thanks to the organizers’ involvement, the offerings and potential of the following companies: Medical Inventi S.A. (bone substitute biomaterial FlexiOss®), Medisept Sp. z o.o. (medical disinfection and hygiene), and Funkbiotics Sp. z o.o. (KARVADERM – combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria) were presented to key partners on the Ukrainian market through dedicated informational materials and discussions.

Mission Goals and Key Activities:

The primary objective of the trip was to explore the potential of the Ukrainian medical market, establish direct business contacts, and familiarize participants with the needs of the Ukrainian healthcare system in the context of ongoing reconstruction and modernization. Participants took part in the 29th Specialized “GalMED” Trade Fair and the Lviv Medical Forum, recognized as leading industry events in Western Ukraine showcasing the latest solutions in diagnostics, rehabilitation, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals.

The mission program was extremely rich and included a series of meetings and substantive visits:

• May 19: The mission began with a substantive and networking meeting at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) office in Lviv. PAIH experts presented support offers for Polish business in Ukraine and discussed the investment potential of the Ukrainian medical sector nationwide (UkraineInvest presentation). Participants also learned about local market conditions and Lviv’s needs from the perspective of the Department of Social Policy of the Lviv City Council, the procurement system in public institutions, and the legal aspects of medical device legalization in Ukraine (Legal Alliance Law Firm). Discussions likely focused on practical market entry aspects, such as product registration procedures, identifying potential partners, and understanding local demand specifics.

• May 20: The day was dedicated to participation in the “GalMED” Trade Fair and Lviv Medical Forum. This was a key platform for meetings with Ukrainian medical distributors (such as MEDINTECH, MED TECHNOLOGY, REDMED, MEDeksim) and industry and market experts. A meeting with Polish managers operating in Ukraine, including UNILAB (part of the Polish ALAB group), allowed participants to gain valuable first-hand experience in conducting business in the Ukrainian medical sector. Mission companies had the opportunity to compare their products and innovative technologies and assess their potential application and distribution possibilities in Ukraine, considering urgent needs and growing investments in medical sector modernization. On the same day, a meeting at the Ukrainian-Polish Business Development Center at KredoBank S.A. addressed issues related to trade financing and banking cooperation supporting Polish-Ukrainian economic relations.

• May 21: The program included visits to various medical facilities—from the Dental Medical Center, private MedSpace clinic, Sheptytsky Private Medical Center, NORIMED Rehabilitation Clinic, and “UP” Medical Center in the CoMED Hub, to the International Posture Correction Center Gracja Academy, organized in cooperation with the Lviv Medical Cluster (LVIV CLUSTER OF MEDICAL BUSINESS). These visits allowed mission participants to directly learn about the operation of Ukrainian medical institutions, understand specific patient needs (especially in rehabilitation, which is crucial in the current situation), meet with management and medical staff, and present Polish solutions addressing these needs. The meeting with the Lviv Medical Cluster opened avenues for potential cross-sector and cluster cooperation.

• May 22: The final day was dedicated to visits to specialized centers of strategic importance—the UNBROKEN Center and Superhumans Center. These facilities, focused on treating and rehabilitating war-wounded individuals, clearly demonstrated the urgent and enormous needs of the Ukrainian healthcare system for advanced rehabilitation equipment, medical materials for reconstructive surgery, and injury treatment. This visit underscored direct opportunities for Polish companies offering solutions in these areas, confirming the demand for their products and services.

Market Context and Conclusions:

The mission took place at a time when the Ukrainian economy shows signs of resilience and growth (estimated at 2.9–3.4% in 2024, with further growth forecast for 2025). At the same time, the ongoing war has caused significant infrastructure damage and urgent reconstruction needs. The Ukrainian healthcare system, despite ongoing reforms, faces massive demand related to treatment and rehabilitation. Healthcare expenditure in 2024 amounted to USD 4.4 billion, with estimated reconstruction and development needs of USD 19.4 billion. The sector of online pharmacies and health technologies is also growing.

Poland is a key trading partner for Ukraine, and Polish exports, including medical equipment, are growing dynamically. Direct meetings in Lviv confirmed that the Ukrainian medical market offers significant opportunities for Polish companies. The damaged infrastructure and increasing social needs intensively seek suppliers of equipment, medicines, and medical materials. The geographical proximity of the Lublin region, developed transport infrastructure, and available Polish export and investment support programs (e.g., preferential loans, export insurance) place Polish, including Lublin-based, companies in a favorable position to seize these opportunities.

Acknowledgments:

The Export Support Platform Lublin and the Lublin Medical Cluster would like to express their sincere gratitude to all representatives of the Ukrainian side who contributed to the mission’s success for their hospitality, openness, and valuable substantive and organizational support. Special thanks go to:

• The Foreign Trade Office of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) in Lviv for organizing the opening meeting and providing market information.

• The Lviv Medical Cluster (LVIV CLUSTER OF MEDICAL BUSINESS) for organizing meetings and visits to member facilities, enabling direct insight into the Ukrainian healthcare system.

• The International Association of Polish Entrepreneurs in Ukraine (MSPPU) for sharing experiences and practical advice on doing business in Ukraine.

Significance of the Mission for the Export Support Platform Lublin and Future Plans:

This mission was the first foreign mission organized by the Export Support Platform Lublin and also the first held in Lviv, a partner city of Lublin. Thus, the success of this mission inaugurated the Platform’s activities focused on the Ukrainian market, confirming its huge potential. The Export Support Platform Lublin plans to organize further initiatives in the future, targeting the Ukrainian market as well as other promising foreign markets. Future initiatives will include support for companies from various sectors, including the food industry, which also shows great potential in Ukraine.

About the Organizers:

The Export Support Platform Lublin is an initiative coordinated by the Strategy and Investor Service Department of the Lublin City Office, aimed at supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises from Lublin and the Lublin Metropolitan Area in the internationalization process through the organization of market seminars, training, and foreign missions.

The Lublin Medical Cluster is a cooperation platform bringing together 189 entities, including 155 enterprises, as well as hospitals, universities, and business environment institutions. The cluster works to develop innovation and create networking opportunities in the medical and wellness sector in the Lublin region.