The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted Resolution No. 1365 of 23 October 2025 “Certain issues concerning the implementation of a pilot project on the provision of long-term medical care services to specific categories of persons who defended the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”. The document was developed by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
Within the framework of the pilot, specialised long-term medical care services will be provided free of charge to veterans – combatants and persons with disabilities as a result of war – who require substantial external assistance. This concerns people whose Barthel Index score is 30 points or less.
The package of services includes:
- initial assessment and monitoring – determining functional status using the Barthel and Karnofsky scales, followed by weekly monitoring;
- medical supervision and support – daily monitoring of health status, treatment, examinations, diagnostic procedures, preventive check-ups and engagement of relevant specialists;
- symptomatic therapy and care – effective pain relief, control of medication intake, care for pressure sores, and prevention of complications and infections;
- hygiene and nutrition – assistance in maintaining personal hygiene and ensuring a balanced diet, and, where necessary, enhanced enteral nutrition;
- rehabilitation and support – provision of maintenance rehabilitation, as well as psychological, social and spiritual support;
- training for relatives – counselling family members or legal representatives on organising home-based care and the patient’s self-care skills.
Combatants, as defined in points 19–25 of part one of Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of War Veterans and Guarantees of their Social Protection”, and persons with disabilities as a result of war, as specified in points 11–16 of part two of Article 7 of the same Law, are entitled to receive these services.
Assistance is provided on an inpatient basis where the following are available:
- medical confirmation of the need for long-term care (a Barthel Index score of 30 points or less, recorded twice at an interval of at least 28 days);
- a referral from a family or attending doctor;
- or upon transfer of the patient from another healthcare facility or unit.
To access the service, the following must be submitted:
- a statement from the patient or a family member/legal representative (if the person is unconscious or unable to write the statement independently);
- a certificate of a combatant or a person with disabilities as a result of war, or an extract from the Unified State Register of War Veterans;
- a referral from a family or attending doctor (not required in the case of transfer from another facility).
Long-term medical care services are provided under the pilot project in healthcare facilities that, by 15 December 2026 inclusive, have concluded a contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine under the package “Long-term medical care for specific categories of persons who defended the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.
At present, 9 healthcare facilities have contracts with the NHSU. They have been included in the patient clinical pathway by Order of the Ministry of Health of 23 April 2026 No. 537 “On the approval of the List of healthcare facilities, regardless of the form of ownership, and individual entrepreneurs who are part of the patient clinical pathway for receiving long-term medical care services for specific categories of persons who defended the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” (as amended).