Ця публікація також доступна такими мовами:

Ukraine has inherited an inhumane medical approach to rehabilitation services for those in need of special attention (people with disabilities, veterans, and others) from the Soviet Union.

To overcome the "reservations of totalitarianism" and restore human dignity, we must conceptually change the paradigm of state policy: shifting from a medicalized approach to a social one. This means creating an effective mechanism for integrating individuals into society and recognizing them as full members.

This is why the Healthy Solutions Foundation has become a platform for discussions and visions among participants of the "Health Solutions for Social Inclusion" Coalition, established with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The coalition unites driving civil society organizations in Ukraine to collectively rethink and transform the existing system of disability assessments (ESDA) and military medical commissions (MMC). Our shared goal is to create a person-centered model of social inclusion in Ukraine amid war and post-war recovery. Our main focus is on veterans and servicemen returning from the front who require rehabilitation.

What Makes the Current System Ineffective?

• Insufficient Interaction and Coordination Among Stakeholders: There is a low level of cooperation and interaction between state institutions, civil organizations, and medical commissions, leading to inefficiencies in operations and decision-making.
• Deficiencies in Disability Assessment Processes: Incompetence, bias, and inadequate oversight of ESDA/MMC result in incorrect decisions.
• Lack of Clarity and Transparency in ESDA and MMC Processes: The absence of clear algorithms and criteria for decision-making regarding disability complicates the process for individuals undergoing assessments.
• Lack of Monitoring and Control Over ESDA/MMC Activities: There is no independent organization to systematically and objectively oversee the work of medical commissions, nor is there public involvement in this process.
• Social Attitudes and Stigma: Widespread stigma and misunderstanding regarding people with disabilities lead to discrimination and difficulties in integrating individuals into society.

What Can the Coalition Do to Improve the System?

The coalition's mission is not to criticize existing legislation but to develop proposals for replacing the practices of ESDA/MMC, based on domestic research and integration of foreign experiences.

We aim to:

• Identify the main challenges in providing rehabilitation services to individuals with special statuses (people with disabilities, veterans, and others).
• Develop an economic justification for implementing a new model.
• Create a platform for dialogue among all stakeholders to achieve public consensus.
• Harmonize legislation with EU standards by analyzing models and experiences from various countries, adapting them to the Ukrainian context and needs.

We thank the participants for their involvement and active engagement.

• Fight For Right
• Right to Protection
• Ukrainian Health Center (UHC)
• Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU)
• Patients of Ukraine
• Principle
• Legal Hundred