The state and prospects of development of medical care for schoolchildren and adolescents in Europe and Ukraine

In the unfavorable conditions of martial law in Ukraine, preserving the health of the younger generation is becoming a crucial task of state policy. Aim - to determine the optimal model of medical care for school-age children and adolescents of Ukraine based on world and national experience in peacetime, wartime and postwar times. The object of the study is the global and national trends in medical care for schoolchildren in peacetime time and period of a humanitarian crisis: publications of the European Bureau of the WHO, articles in the scientific communication media (2000-2024). The WHO Global School Health Initiative is aimed at improving the educational level of children and promoting healthy lifestyles at the regional, national and global levels. The WHO Office for Europe’s reports determine that investing in the health of children and adolescents brings greater economic and social benefits compared to secondary and other types of disease prevention among the adult population. The concept proposes quality standards for school health services and competencies for school health professionals. According to the results of the project “Child Health Models Appraised” (2018-2020), it was found that there are different models of medical care in educational institutions, differing in terms of subordination, funding, and staff training. The SI "Institute for Children and Adolescents Health Care at the NAMS of Ukraine" (Kharkiv) proposed a program of medical and preventive measures to preserve the health of school-age children and adolescents in the context of a persistent humanitarian crisis. Conclusions. The most optimal model of medical care for school-age children and adolescents is a multidisciplinary approach to the formation of a healthy lifestyle and the creation of appropriate conditions for its implementation. The solution to the problem of maintaining the health of school-age children and adolescents is of particular relevance in times of humanitarian shocks and needs to be improved in Ukraine today. The authors declare no conflict of interest.