WHO headquarters in Geneva. Ukraine: WHO and European Observatory to support funding for rehabilitation care in the country Healthcare
WHO and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies are conducting a new study of the Ukrainian health care system, which will allow assessing the situation with the availability of rehabilitation services in the country and subsequently – developing policy decisions that can form the basis for adequate financing of rehabilitation care.
Lack of data in the field of rehabilitation
“Universal health coverage cannot be achieved without financing, because it is through good health financing that we can ensure equal access to quality health care and protect people from financial hardship, regardless of where they live or their social or economic status,” said Natascia Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems at WHO/Europe.
“However, there is a significant gap in the evidence on how to use health financing opportunities to scale up rehabilitation services. This study will provide much-needed evidence on sustainable rehabilitation financing models that can support the efforts of Ukraine and other countries in the WHO European Region,” she added.
The study, as noted by WHO, is being conducted against the backdrop of complex global trends such as population ageing, climate change, the rise in chronic diseases and the increasing number of health emergencies. In this regard, WHO emphasizes the importance of integrating rehabilitation services into the health system.
The study is being conducted in several areas, including the availability of rehabilitation after stroke and limb amputation; insurance coverage of rehabilitation services and the right to benefits, as well as the procedure for paying for services of various rehabilitation care providers.
The need for rehabilitation increased during the war
The WHO notes that after the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the needs of Ukrainians for rehabilitation care increased sharply.
“Despite the war, Ukraine continues to implement transformative health reforms, with a particular focus on trauma rehabilitation and stroke recovery,” said Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
“This comparative study will provide information on the experiences of a number of European countries in financing and organising rehabilitation systems, which will contribute to the development of appropriate policies in Ukraine. It is also intended to bring the mechanisms for financing and paying for rehabilitation services in line with the Ukrainian healthcare reform program,” he added.
Rehabilitation Financing
One of the objectives of the study is to highlight the important role of rehabilitation services in reducing disability.
“There is a real gap in the data on the financing of rehabilitation services, given that rehabilitation plays a critical role in strengthening health systems,” said Ewout van Ginneken, coordinator of the European Observatory Research Center at the Berlin University of Technology.
The most important outcome of the study will be a policy dialogue to be held in Kyiv on November 22 this year, during which stakeholders from Ukraine and other European countries.
The results of this study will be taken into account in the process of developing policies for Ukraine, as well as for other countries, aimed at optimizing the financing of rehabilitation services, ensuring their sustainable integration into national health systems around the world.