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Access to health care for beneficiaries of international protection is guaranteed in Ukrainian legislation. Under Ukrainian legislation, refugees and persons in need of complementary protection can conclude the medical declaration with a physician.[1] NGOs report that there are no obstacles in signing medical declarations with beneficiaries of international protection.
As part of the medical guarantee program, the state guarantees persons recognised as refugees or persons in need of complementary protection full payment for medical services and medicines related to the provision of such services at the expense of the State Budget of Ukraine including 1) emergency medical care; 2) primary medical care; 3) specialised medical care; 4) palliative care; 5) rehabilitation in the field of healthcare; 6) medical care for children under 16 years of age; 7) medical care in connection with pregnancy and childbirth.[2]
In 2020, the Parliament adopted the Law on Rehabilitation which foresees the possibility of recovery, including psychological support for traumatised persons.[3] The legislations cover people with disabilities or people who cannot perform in the usual manner due to their state of health or aging. The Law on Rehabilitation does not mention victims of torture but inherently foresees all spectrum of recovery services for them. To receive State rehabilitation assistance a person shall address to the physician with whom they concluded the medical declaration.
In its research dedicated to the rehabilitation of victims of torture for 2021, the Council of Europe emphasised that there is no cohesive regulatory framework for the support of torture victims. Responsibilities are unclear, with no designated authorities, and assistance is fragmented. Victims lack local support, post-discharge care, and a rehabilitation monitoring system. The national rehabilitation system relies primarily on NGOs, which operate inconsistently and depend on grants.[4]
However, some refugees complain about language barriers in communicating with doctors, as well as discriminatory practices used by some doctors that make them wait in line longer than other patients. Also, some beneficiaries expressed low awareness of how they can access healthcare services.[5]
[1] part II(6) Procedure for Determining a Medic who Provides Primary Medical Care from 19 March 2018, No. 503
[2] Article 4(1) Law on State Financial Guarantees of Healthcare Services for the Population.
[3] Law on Rehabilitation.
[4] Council of Europe, The Mechanism of Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Ukraine, 2021, 2019, available in Ukrainian here.
[5] UNHCR, Ukraine 2019 Joint Needs Assessment, 2019, available in Ukrainian here.