In Ukraine, the National Barrier-Free Week is held – a time when society can assess the extent to which conditions have been created for each person to feel included, free to choose and move. One of the key areas of implementation of the National Strategy for Barrier-free access by 2030 in the field of health care is the creation of a modern, accessible and human-centered rehabilitation system. About this informs press office of the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health is implementing three leading projects: the development of a system of rehabilitation assistance for civilians and military personnel, outpatient rehabilitation, and specialized assistance for children. At the heart of the approach is a multidisciplinary team that provides effective, free and high-quality support that allows patients, including wounded military personnel, to return to active life as soon as possible.
The base of this system is barrier-free rehabilitation departments in cluster and super-cluster hospitals that are part of a capable network. Today, such departments operate in more than 82% of relevant medical institutions — 192 out of 232. This significantly expands access to rehabilitation. According to the task set by the President, by the end of 2025 barrier-free outpatient rehabilitation spaces for veterans should appear in every community where there is a medical facility. We are talking about almost 300 such points. Currently, they have already been created in 90 out of 221 medical institutions — that is 40% of the total number.
Within the framework of the reform, a rehabilitation monoservice is also introduced – at least 10 sessions during three months, which are conducted by physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapy specialists. This is an important step towards a comprehensive rehabilitation pathway, including primary level services.
The Ministry of Health pays special attention to the rehabilitation of children, focusing efforts on a family-centered approach, where specialists work closely with parents. Such a model helps to more effectively support families raising children with developmental disabilities. In 2024, more than 86,000 children underwent rehabilitation fully financed by the state through the Medical Guarantee Program.
Assistance is provided to children who were born prematurely, have congenital disorders, suffered injuries or diseases, as well as their families. An important task is to make long-term rehabilitation as accessible as possible at the child’s place of residence. This involves a combination of medical, educational and social services based on evidence-based methods.
The country has a network of inpatient departments designed for 727 rehabilitation beds, which is equivalent to 11 beds for every 100,000 children. The National Health Service of Ukraine contracted 555 medical institutions to provide rehabilitation services to adults and children. Inpatient care is provided in 362 institutions, outpatient care in 508, and for children under three years old in 153 medical institutions.
You can find a medical institution that provides rehabilitation through the electronic map or by contacting the NHSHU hotline at number 1677. You only need to choose the appropriate package of services: “Rehabilitation assistance for adults and children in inpatient conditions”, “in outpatient conditions” or “medical rehabilitation of infants”.
