A four-year Ukrainian-Swiss project “TRUE – Trauma Rehabilitation for Ukraine” has been launched in Ukraine. The initiative is funded by the Swiss government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and will be implemented by the “Patients of Ukraine” charitable foundation. together with the Swiss Institute for Tropical and Public Health (Swiss TPH).
The project launch document was signed by the Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko and Ambassador Jacques Gerber, a delegate of the Federal Council for Ukraine, who is on a working visit to Kyiv.
“Switzerland supports Ukraine not only in overcoming the consequences of the war, but also in building a sustainable system that will help people return to their usual lives. Rehabilitation is about dignity, recovery and faith in the future. We are proud that our joint efforts contribute to sustainable systemic changes”, – said Jacques Gerber.
The project “TRUE – Trauma Rehabilitation for Ukraine” is designed until 2029 and provides for the creation of a sustainable, people-centered rehabilitation system based on medical institutions that have contracts with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) and provide rehabilitation care free of charge within the framework of the Medical Guarantees Program.
“We continue to build a modern rehabilitation system in Ukraine, based on the principles of evidence, accessibility and people-centeredness. The flagship project “Development of the Rehabilitation Care System” is a key part of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space. High-quality rehabilitation is when a person can recover from an injury and return to their usual life.
This is how we understand barrier-free. The President of Ukraine has set us an ambitious goal – to create the strongest rehabilitation system in Europe. Together with partners, we are forming a network that will provide Ukrainians with high-quality, affordable and free rehabilitation care. Cooperation with Switzerland strengthens this course – it will help train specialists, equip hospitals with modern equipment and implement sustainable care routes. The TRUE project is another step towards systemic changes in the field of rehabilitation, – said the Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko.
The TRUE initiative should provide Ukrainians with the opportunity to undergo high-quality and free rehabilitation in their hospitals and return to an active life. The project involves the implementation of best international practices and the development of national expertise. The Swiss funding amounts to almost 9 million Swiss francs.
The project will be implemented both through improving legislation, regulations and standards in the field of rehabilitation, and through practical strengthening of the rehabilitation system on the ground.
Special attention will be paid to the training of specialists – modernization of higher education in the field of rehabilitation, improving skills through courses, training and exchange of experience. Medical institutions will receive modern rehabilitation equipment and assistive devices for patients. The project will also focus on creating clear routes for patients – from hospital stay to returning home and receiving social support.
In addition, “TRUE – Trauma Rehabilitation for Ukraine” will contribute to the development of inclusion, increasing tolerance and reducing stigmatization of people with disabilities. The initiative will be an important step in the implementation of the flagship project of the Ministry of Health “Development of the Rehabilitation Assistance System”, which is part of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space.
