The Sheptytsky Hospital in Lviv is known traditionally as the ‛Narodna Lichnytsia“. Under the auspices of Caritas Ukraine, the Sheptytsky Hospital daily provides a warm and comfortable atmosphere, where patients receive quality medical care and understanding.

The institution was established in 1902 by the Curia of the Lviv Archeparchy at the initiative of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. The main goal of the Narodna Lichnytsia at the beginning of the 20th century was the creation of a charitable institution ‛for the purpose of giving free medical assistance to those who lived in Lviv and all of Halychyna, regardless of their religious convictions or ethnic origins“. The Hospital adheres to these principles to this day.

The Hospital is financed exclusively by donations and voluntary contributions from local benefactors, as well as foreign donors.  Benefactors from around the world contributed to improving the material and technical foundations of the Hospital, however Caritas Ukraine, which has spearheaded a number of investment and development projects remains the largest benefactor. Caritas Ukraine has not only helped to improve the institution’s finances, but has also greatly influenced the formation of new approaches in providing assistance to the those in need.

From the very start of the Home Care Program, the goal was not only to provide care services at home, but also to create an educational basis for a whole spectrum of specialists, as well as initiate multi-level preparatory training for nurses and social workers. Close cooperation with the Lviv Medical University, Lviv Polytechnic National University, the Holy Spirit Seminary, and the Ukrainian Catholic University provides a steady flow of practical training and volunteer activity for future specialists at the Hospital.

A palliative and hospice care department for the terminally ill has functioned at the Hospital since 2003. This department has become the basis for the exchange of experience between Ukrainian and foreign specialists. International conferences, round tables and working groups of the Intersectoral Working Group on Palliative Medicine (formed at the initiative of the Ministries of Public Health and Social Welfare and Labor Policy) regularly meet on the premises.

The non-profit organization ‛Contact“ is based at the Hospital, providing mutual support and social adaptation for children suffering from autism. It now serves 30 families from Lviv and 24 from Lviv Region. Specialized lessons are conducted here for each child individually. On Sundays, divine services are conducted for parents and children of this group in the Hospital Chapel. At present, Contact has no financial support and exists solely from charitable donations of private individuals.

Over 50 HIV-positive persons and their families receive psychological and medical services in the Hospital. A special ward has been assigned for HIV-positive children for daytime rest and recreation. As a result, their parents and guardians can make use of this time to deal with their social and legal issues.

There are 6 universities in Lviv, including one of the largest - the Danylo Halytsky Medical University, and over 100 medical institutions of various forms of ownership, providing various levels of assistance. The Hospital does not aspire to compete with any of them, instead to complement those areas which may be weak or underdeveloped in the current system of health care. In 2007, the Hospital was honoured by the highest award, ‛Benefactor 2007“.