How a Polish Rare Disease Organizations Is Helping Its Ukrainian Neighbors

The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began at the end of February has caused more than 5 million people to flee the country as the brutal assault has not spared civilian populations, schools, or hospitals. For people with rare diseases, the war has sent families in search of needed medications and care as they have crossed the border in search of help. Healthcare Education Institute, a Poland-base rare disease advocacy group, has been working to help Ukrainians with rare diseases get across the border, find accommodations, and connect them to medical care. We spoke to Adrian Goretzki, founder and president of the foundation, about the needs of Ukrainians with rare diseases, what his organization has been able to do to help, and why the humanitarian crisis for these rare disease patients will last beyond the current hostilities.