Participants analyzed the work of the rehabilitation system during the war, outlined the challenges in providing assistance to defenders and identified key tasks for the development of the industry. Among the priorities was the transition from humanitarian initiatives to sustainable solutions at the national level. Special attention was paid to new directions for Ukraine: intensive therapy, pediatric rehabilitation and work with patients with oncological diseases. They also emphasized the importance of the continuity of the rehabilitation process, functional assessment of patients and the development of interdisciplinary cooperation.
The All-Ukrainian Association of Physical Therapists supported the position of the National Health Service of Ukraine regarding the maintenance of personnel requirements when contracting and paying for services within the scope of the Medical Guarantee Program. In addition, the participants discussed the development of clinical guidelines and standards (the first documents are already out for public discussion), as well as strengthening the role of professional leadership.
At the Congress, special attention was paid to the education and status of specialists: now physical therapists and other rehabilitation specialists – the entire multidisciplinary team that works for the patient’s recovery – are officially recognized as health care workers, which is confirmed by the order of the Ministry of Health No. 1065.
The priorities of the Ministry of Health and the key tasks of the professional community remain the provision of sustainable changes, the development of specialists’ competencies and the improvement of the system’s capacity. Physical therapy and rehabilitation should remain high-quality, free of charge and accessible to all Ukrainians.
The congress was organized by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Association of Physical Therapists” together with the initiative “Rehabilitation of war injuries in Ukraine”, which is implemented by the BF “Patients of Ukraine”, with the support of the WHO Bureau in Ukraine and the European Union, the Ukrainian Red Cross, the International Society of the Red Cross, the Charity Fund “Zaporuka”, the Soleterre organization, the Institute of Vertebrology and Rehabilitation, the Ukrainian-Norwegian rehabilitation project of Sunnaas Sykehus HF, as well as with the assistance of Tetyana Lomakina, the authorized adviser to the President of Ukraine on barrier-free issues, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the National Health Service of Ukraine.
