Ukrainian Parliament passes law to abolish medical-social expert commissions

Ukrainian Member of Parliament, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, reported on this.

"Starting January 1, 2025, expert commissions will be established in cluster and super-cluster hospitals (modern system for assessing a person’s functioning)," according to the post.

The Ministry of Health explained the changes starting January 1, 2025:

• Expert teams will conduct evaluations within an electronic system that considers an individual’s real needs.
• Teams will be formed randomly, with doctors’ and patients’ data kept confidential until the evaluation.
• Decisions made by the expert teams can be appealed at the Functional Assessment Center, consisting of doctors from state healthcare institutions nationwide.
• The law lays the foundation for using the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) in education, social, and other sectors.
• All certificates and documents issued by the MSEC before January 1, 2025, remain valid and continue to serve as the basis for receiving social guarantees, rights, benefits, pensions, compensations, and other payments.
• The MSEC is required to transfer all available medical-expert cases and archival documents to designated healthcare institutions.
• Statistical data from functional assessments will be made public for public monitoring and to prevent corruption.

In addition, as reported, the experimental teams will review cases that were not addressed by the MSEC by the end of the current year. Individuals will be notified of the date and new address for the evaluation.

It is noted that for individuals whose scheduled re-evaluation falls between January and June 2025 and who are unable to complete it on time, the disability period will be extended until the date a decision is made based on the assessment of everyday functioning, but not beyond July 1, 2025.

Additionally, for individuals with a lifelong disability, re-evaluation is not required.

“All rights, documents, payments, privileges, social services, and deferrals remain in effect. Re-evaluation is only possible at the individual’s request or by a court decision,” the statement reads.

Background

On October 4, Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation exposed Tetyana Krupa, the head of the Khmelnytskyi regional center, for illegal enrichment amounting to large sums, potentially involving other family members. During searches, $6 million in cash was found, with Krupa attempting to dispose of nearly half a million dollars by throwing it out of a window.

In the aftermath, Khmelnytskyi regional prosecutor Oleksiy Oliinyk (also reportedly disabled) resigned, and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine launched an investigation. 

According to a preliminary probe by the Center for Countering Corruption, fake disability statuses with subsequent pension payments are not only prevalent in Khmelnytskyi but also in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

On October 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 732/2024, announcing the liquidation of medical and social expert commissions effective December 31, 2024.

 On October 25, the government approved a plan to counter corruption and other offenses within the medical and social expert commissions. 

On October 28, the government dismissed rumors that the plan would affect disability payments.

The day after, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved in the final reading Bill No. 11225 aimed at improving the procedures for conducting medical and social expert assessments. 

On November 1, Health Minister Viktor Liashko stated that instead of the 328 separate MSEC commissions in Ukraine, teams of practicing doctors would work, with their composition formed by a random system.

On November 4, the Cabinet of Ministers prepared and submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada regarding the abolition of the medical and social expert commissions. 

On November 20, the Verkhovna Rada approved this bill in the first reading.