Headline: Ukraine‘s sliced: End of MSEK, new expert commissions in hospitals from Jan 1
Subhead: A significant healthcare reform moves forward as MSEKs phase out, paving the way for expert commissions in major hospitals.
Article:
Ukraine is set for a significant shift in its healthcare system as the Verkhovna Rada has approved the liquidation of medico-social expert commissions (MSEK) starting January 1, 2025. This reform comes amidst a series of high-profile corruption cases involving MSEK members and allegations of issuing false disability certificates.
The law, parliamentarian Yaroslav Zhaleyko (Voice Party) announced via his Telegram channel, garnered 259 votes. As the MSEKs phase out, the country will introduce expert commissions in cluster and supracluster hospitals. These new commissions will comprise practicing medical professionals, marking a significant departure from the previous system.
The Rise and Fall of MSEKs
MSEKs have been a contentious issue for years, with multiple cases of abuses coming to light recently. Law enforcement agencies conducted several raids on MSEK offices, uncovering large sums of foreign currency and documents detailing the sale of fake disability certificates. These revelations prompted the resignation of General Prosecutor Andriy Kostin.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his dismay at the frequency of these abuses, noting, "It became obvious that there were a lot of fakes, including among those issued to our own officials."
The Road Ahead
In November, the Cabinet of Ministers proposed Law No. 12178, laying the groundwork for this reform. The new expert commissions, which will become operational at the start of 2025, will be responsible for assessing an individual’s daily functioning, determining their disability group, and planning additional examinations.
The Ministry of Health has indicated that these commissions will operate within well-equipped, multiprofile medical institutions. They will use a combination of on-site, remote, and mobile consultations, ensuring comprehensive assessments for patients. Moreover, the process will be digitalized, allowing seamless interaction between medical professionals and social service providers.
As Ukraine bids farewell to the MSEK system, it embarks on a new chapter in its healthcare sector, aiming to create a more efficient, transparent, and corruption-free disability assessment process.
