DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SYSTEM IN UKRAINE UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

The military aggression provoked by Russia leads to the destruction of infrastructure and results in casualties and mass injuries among both military personnel and civilians. Consequently, the number of individuals requiring rehabilitation increases daily. Over two years of full-scale war, the number of people with disabilities in Ukraine has risen by 10%. Rehabilitation of the victims and their reintegration into society are priority areas in healthcare. Objective. To optimize the organization of the rehabilitation system for the population of Ukraine under martial law based on a SWOT analysis. Materials and Methods. A search and analysis of public and scientific sources of relevant information regarding the current state, scope of needs, and existing issues in the rehabilitation process in Ukraine under martial law were conducted. The study utilized bibliosemantic and structural-logical analysis methods. The obtained information was analyzed following the principles of system analysis, a system approach, as well as SWOT analysis. Results and Discussion. Expanding the Program of Medical Guarantees with new packages 53 and 54 on Rehabilitation has significantly increased the accessibility of rehabilitation services for the population of Ukraine. Under the Program of Medical Guarantees, rehabilitation services are fully covered by the National Health Service of Ukraine. Medical rehabilitation care, whether outpatient or inpatient, is available to patients of any age, gender, or social status, free of charge and at the hospital of their choice. Rehabilitation services can be provided during the acute, post-acute, and long-term periods. The optimal time to begin rehabilitation is immediately after stabilizing the patient’s vital functions. Rehabilitation care is delivered by multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams or individual rehabilitation specialists, adhering to the fundamental principles of rehabilitation. As the number of injured individuals grows, so does the need for assistive rehabilitation devices, which are integral to creating a barrier-free environment. In matters of rehabilitation for wounded military personnel, 25 partner countries assist Ukraine, with leading support from Germany, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Bulgaria, and the Baltic States. SWOT analysis was utilized to analyze key characteristics and trends in developing rehabilitation in Ukraine. Conclusions. Rehabilitation is one of the priority areas of activity for the Ministry of Health in cooperation with other ministries and agencies. Training of rehabilitation specialists and formation of multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams, along with equipping healthcare facilities with technical rehabilitation tools, ensure timely and evidence-based rehabilitation care. According to the results of the SWOT analysis, rehabilitation in Ukraine is at the stage of formation and development. Considering opportunities, strengths, weaknesses, and threats, the rehabilitation process can be significantly expanded and improved, thereby contributing to the restoration of human capital, i.e. the reintegration of the victims into active social life and employment.