Hospitals and primary healthcare centers across six regions of Ukraine have received informational materials titled “How to Identify Disability Under the New Procedure.” These materials were developed by the NGO “League of the Strong” in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, with support from the International Renaissance Foundation. The announcement was made by Daria Sydorenko, Executive Director of “League of the Strong,” during a press conference at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
“We understand that the new procedure can cause confusion and anxiety. Many people are unsure about which documents to submit or whom to approach for assistance. That’s why we created a newsletter that was distributed to hospitals and primary healthcare centers. So far, 223 healthcare facilities in six regions—Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Ternopil, Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi, and Cherkasy—have received these materials. We ensured the information is clear and written in simple, accessible language,” said Daria Sydorenko.
She also highlighted that “League of the Strong” has been actively advocating for the reform of the Medical and Social Expert Commissions (MSEC) for a long time. In collaboration with the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, the NGOs “Principle” and “Together Against Corruption,” the organization sent a letter to the Ministry of Health proposing ten concrete steps to streamline and improve the MSEC process.
Several of these recommendations have been incorporated into the planned MSEC reform for 2025, including:
- Clearly defined disability durations based on specific diseases or conditions.
- A 30-day deadline for the Expert Commission on Functional Assessment (ECFO) to review cases from the date of referral.
- Simplified procedures by removing the requirement for an additional review by medical advisory commissions before receiving a referral.
- Digitalization and integration of the process with the eHealth system.
At the same time, Sydorenko stressed the importance of transitioning to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), a change mandated by Law No. 12178.
“This shift will help move away from a purely medical interpretation of disability and redefine who is involved in the disability determination process. While we are seeing progress, it is crucial to continue advancing reforms to ensure that once a disability is identified, individuals have access to the full range of social and rehabilitation services they require,” she added.
The press conference was organized with the support of “League of the Strong” and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the MSEC Reform Project. The opinions expressed in this news report represent the authors’ views and do not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.