Problem statement. Modern global trends of development of higher education actualize the need to study the regional experience of integration of higher education to international intellectual space.

The methodological basis of study were: systematic approach, biographical, historical and comparative, historical and retrospective methods.

The purpose. To analyze the role of intercultural communications in implementation of innovations in higher medical and pharmaceutical education during the XIX - early XX century using the example of Kharkiv University.

Results. The analysis of both sources and scientific literature allows to indicate that the scientists of Physics and Mathematics department and Medical department of Kharkiv University listened to lectures and attended seminars at leading educational centers while being abroad. They also worked in modern equipped laboratories led by eminent scientists; in libraries, on the manuscript of the thesis, which contributed to formation of interdisciplinary field of scientific interests and contributed to implementation of innovations in the process of training of specialists for health care branch.

Conclusions and recommendations. Intercultural interaction has become an important factor for implementation of innovations in higher professional education in Ukraine, which contributed to the transition to a more qualitative level of organization of medical and pharmaceutical education at Kharkiv University. Analysis of transforming spiritual heritage of one European nation on the basis of historical and cultural traditions of others gives a possibility to grasp deeper the essence of the cultural heritage of Europe.