Most Ukrainians are not even aware that Ukraine provides free prosthetics and that they can get a high-quality prosthesis for free. The state provides citizens with free prostheses, guaranteeing to cover the costs of their installation, maintenance and repair. What categories of people are entitled to a free prosthesis and how to get it for free – read the article 
Who is eligible for free prosthetics?
Funds for prosthetics are allocated annually in the state budget. The following categories of people are eligible for free prosthetics
- military personnel, law enforcement officers and veterans;
- civilians affected by war;
- persons who have received a disability not caused by hostilities;
- children with disabilities and children with musculoskeletal disorders.
Thus, such persons are provided with prostheses free of charge and the state fully covers the cost of their maintenance and repair. At the same time, the amount of compensation for the military is three times higher than for civilians. As of today, the maximum compensation is UAH 2 million, and each type of prosthesis has a limit value.
Do I need a disability to get a prosthesis?
As a general rule, to be eligible for free prosthetics from the state, you must have an officially recognised disability. However, war victims do not need to wait for a disability to be established to receive a prosthesis. For the military, it will be enough to have a certificate from the commander of the military unit about the circumstances of the injury.
The following documents are required for free prosthetics:
- Passport of a citizen of Ukraine;
- Registration number of the taxpayer’s account card (RNOKPP), which is often called an “individual tax number” (ITN);
- Certificate of injury (for military personnel);
- Conclusion of a military medical commission (for the military) or conclusion of a medical examination commission (for civilians);
- Conclusion on the need for auxiliary rehabilitation equipment;
- Certificate of a combatant (if available).
How to apply for prosthetics?
Depending on the location of the person with a disability, there are several ways to apply for a prosthesis:
- If a person with a disability who needs a prosthesis is in hospital, they can contact a social worker who will help them with the paperwork to get a prosthesis. As part of the pilot project, some medical facilities employ social workers who are part of rehabilitation multidisciplinary teams.
- If the hospital does not have a social worker, you should ask your doctor to call a specialist from the local branch of the Social Protection Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
- While in the hospital, it is also recommended to find out if they have a memorandum with prosthetists and orthotists. If so, such specialists can also help with the preparation of the necessary documents for prosthetics.
- If a person has already been discharged from hospital, they can go to the nearest ASC or local social security department to submit the documents there.
- In addition, a person can apply for a free prosthesis online through the electronic cabinet of a person with a disability.
Registration procedure in the electronic cabinet
In order to have full access to the e-cabinet, you need to complete primary and secondary registration. Primary registration involves submitting an application through the electronic cabinet by filling out an application and signing it with a qualified electronic signature (QES).
Citizens who have already been registered with the CBI also need to undergo secondary registration to gain access to the functionality of the electronic cabinet. This can be done using a QES. If you do not have a QES, you must contact the social security department and receive an authorisation code in paper form to complete the full registration cycle yourself.
The electronic cabinet of a person with a disability allows you to
- submit an application for the provision of auxiliary rehabilitation equipment;
- submit an application to the chosen enterprise about its choice and the need to provide assistive devices
- receive electronic notifications about the outcome of the application process.
Choosing a prosthetic enterprise
The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine emphasised that a person with a disability who needs a prosthesis can choose the company where the prosthesis will be manufactured and installed.
When choosing a prosthetic company, you should first of all consider its proximity to your place of residence and experience in manufacturing the type of prosthesis you need.
In addition, it is important to find out how the prosthetic company conducts prosthetic rehabilitation and training, whether the company has a physical therapist who can help with the correct gait with a prosthesis, and to talk to those who have previously had a prosthesis fitted at this particular company.
How do I get a referral for prosthetics?
A referral for prosthetics will be sent to the electronic cabinet of a person with a disability, regardless of the method of submitting documents. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to register in the electronic cabinet. The referral for prosthetics allows you to choose any prosthetic company.
You can contact the chosen prosthetic company online, by phone or in person. If you are in hospital, you can do this through a social worker or the head of the rehabilitation department. After that, an official application (in paper or electronic form) should be submitted to the prosthetic enterprise, a photo or scanned copy of which should be uploaded to the electronic cabinet of a person with a disability.
The term of prosthesis manufacturing
The period for manufacturing a prosthesis is quite individual and may depend on many factors. Usually, the prosthesis can be received within 45 working days. In simpler cases, it takes about 3 weeks to make a prosthesis. The maximum waiting period from the moment of submitting documents to receiving the prosthesis is 3 months.
Thus, thanks to the government’s free prosthetics programme, Ukrainians, including military personnel, injured civilians and children with disabilities, can receive prosthetics free of charge. The programme covers all prosthetic costs, including their manufacture, maintenance and repair.
In addition, it is impossible not to note the convenience of the application procedure through an electronic cabinet, which greatly simplifies the process of applying for and receiving a referral for prosthetics.
Author: Olya Yushko