Access to free dental prosthetics for combatants: explanation from the Ministry of Defense

Issues of medical support for military personnel who participated in combat operations, remains an important component of the state social protection policy, because the status of a combat participant provides for a number of specific guarantees, among which a special place is occupied by the right to preferential medical care, including dental care.

Representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine explained that one of the benefits provided by law for people with the status of a combat participant is the opportunity to receive dental services free of charge. This primarily concerns dental prosthetics, which the state guarantees as part of medical support for military personnel who participated in hostilities during the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.

The department’s specialists emphasize that the right to such assistance is provided within the framework of current legislation and is implemented through the state medical system and partner medical institutions.

As explained by the Ministry of Defense, dental care for combatants is included in the list of medical benefits that the state guarantees to people with the appropriate status. This category includes various types of dental treatment, as well as dental prosthetics, which allows you to restore damaged or lost teeth. Special attention is paid to prosthetics, since such procedures are usually expensive and require complex treatment.

Ministry specialists note that the legislation provides for priority free dental prosthetics for combatants. This opportunity was created so that military personnel could receive the necessary dental care without financial burden, since long-term service and combat operations are often accompanied by a deterioration in health, including problems with teeth and the oral cavity.

However, representatives of the Ministry of Defense specify that there is a certain limitation in the system of these benefits. It applies to cases when precious metals are used to make dental prostheses. Such types of prosthetics are not included in the list of free services, so their cost is not covered by the state.

The place of provision of dental care is also not limited to state hospitals. The Ministry of Defense explains that participants in hostilities can undergo treatment in both state and private dental institutions. This opportunity became available thanks to the cooperation of medical institutions with the system of state financing of medical services.

At the same time, experts draw attention to an important condition on which the possibility of receiving free dental care in a private clinic depends. The medical institution must have a valid contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine, which acts as the body that finances medical services within the framework of the state medical guarantees program. It is the presence of such an agreement that allows the clinic to provide services to patients whose treatment costs are compensated by the state.

The Ministry of Defense also emphasizes that information about dental institutions operating within the framework of this program can be obtained through the contact center of the National Health Service of Ukraine. To do this, it is enough to call the short number 16-77, where consultations are provided regarding medical institutions that have relevant agreements with the National Health Service of Ukraine.

The department’s specialists emphasize that dental care is only part of a broader system of benefits provided for people with the status of a combatant. In addition to medical services, servicemen can use a number of social guarantees, including discounts on goods and services, free access to cultural institutions, as well as various types of support at the local level.

According to representatives of the Ministry of Defense, certain benefits may apply not only to the military themselves, but also to their family members. These are various social support programs that are implemented by both state structures and local governments.

The department emphasizes that combatants should clarify information about available benefits in their communities or relevant state institutions, since some programs are implemented at the regional level and may differ depending on a specific city or region. Thus, the system of social guarantees for the military covers various areas of life, among which medical care, in particular dental treatment, remains one of the most popular areas of support.