The Cabinet of Ministers has improved the conditions for providing the military with modern high-functioning prostheses
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine confirmed changes to the Procedure for prosthetics and orthotics with products of increased functionality, which were initiated by the Ministry of Social Policy. These changes are intended to make it easier for servicemen who have been seriously injured to access highly functional prostheses, allowing them to significantly improve their quality of life and return to active activities.
According to the new rules, combatants will be able to get a highly functional prosthesis without having to undergo primary prosthetics. This will be possible if there are recommendations from a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team, as well as in the case of high limb amputations or double amputations. Previously, such prostheses could be obtained only a year after the initial prosthetics.
Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovich noted that the innovations are aimed at creating the most simple and affordable mechanism for providing modern prostheses to those who have suffered serious injuries. The highly functional prostheses, which will be available to the military, are a combination of modern technologies and innovative materials that allow to restore not only the basic functions of the limbs, but also perform complex movements. This will greatly facilitate the process of adaptation and rehabilitation for many defenders.
Changes also apply to the service life of prostheses obtained as part of primary prosthetics. For servicemen returning to service, this term is reduced to three years. In addition, the number of stump liners provided to military personnel has been increased, and the list of documents that must be submitted to receive prostheses has been simplified. Information about highly functional prostheses received at the expense of charitable or humanitarian organizations will be centrally stored in a special data bank, which will allow for greater control and transparency of the process.
The changes also increased the marginal cost of prostheses depending on the level of amputation. For example, the price of prostheses of the upper limbs can reach 4.3 million hryvnias, and those of the lower limbs – up to 3.8 million hryvnias. The list of available products includes modern models such as shoulder prostheses with an external energy source, hip prostheses with the Genium X3 electronic knee joint, as well as other high-tech products.
