The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a joint project of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and the National Health Service of Ukraine, which provides for the creation of a system of long-term medical care for veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The initiative is aimed at expanding the capabilities of medical institutions that will provide assistance to the Defenders of Ukraine who, due to injuries, traumas, or serious illnesses, require constant support – medical, rehabilitation, and social. Services will be available to patients with a Barthel scale score of 30 or less (a tool for assessing a person’s level of independence in everyday life).
The program provides for the possibility of veterans receiving comprehensive care, which includes an initial assessment of the patient’s functional status using the Barthel and Karnowski scales, determining the level of dependence on outside help, regular monitoring of health at least once a week, observation, treatment, examination, preventive measures, as well as the involvement of specialists in the relevant field.
In addition, daily health monitoring, medication control, prevention of complications and pain, care for bedsores, hygiene support, balanced nutrition (including enteral), and rehabilitation, psychological, social, and spiritual activities are provided. The program also includes training for relatives or guardians to care for patients.
The services will be provided free of charge to veterans, and their cost will be compensated by the National Health Service of Ukraine. The pilot project is financed from the state budget within the framework of the program “Measures to support and assist war veterans, their family members and the families of the deceased”.
The size of the tariff for one cycle of care is determined depending on the functional state of the patient, which is assessed for at least 28 calendar days. For patients with a high level of dependence (20 points or less), the tariff is 5,452.52 UAH, and for patients with moderate dependence (from 21 to 30 points) – 3,484.30 UAH.
