Reform of the Medical and Social Expertise: New Rules for Disability Establishment Announced for 2025.

Ukraine is reforming the system for establishing disability

The Government of Ukraine has approved a reform of the medical and social expertise (MSE), which will come into effect on January 1, 2025. This was reported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

One of the key changes will be the introduction of a new approach to assessing the condition of patients. Instead of the old system, a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the illness or injury on a person's daily functioning will be introduced.

The reform envisages simplification of the procedure. In particular, the medical commission is now not mandatory, and for some conditions, the need to wait 120 days on a sick leave is eliminated. Referral for additional examinations will now be issued once, except in cases of serious medical reasons.

Assessments will be conducted by teams of practicing physicians in leading hospitals across the country. The entire process will be fully digital - from submitting documents to making a decision. To ensure transparency, data about patients and doctors will be confidential until the day of the meeting.

A special Assessment Center will also be created, consisting of medical professionals from various institutions in Ukraine, to review complaints.

The Ministry also reports that for individuals with a permanent disability status, the documents will remain valid. For those who need to undergo a repeat examination during the implementation of the new system, the review period will be extended by 6 months while retaining all payments, benefits, and social services.