The team of the NGO "Social Unity" received a response from the National Health Service of Ukraine to the letter dated June 20, 2023 No 22.6-23nszu regarding the restoration of the right of people with hearing disabilities to access medical services.
Our appeal concerned the issue of returning the mandatory provision of interpretation into Ukrainian sign language (from Ukrainian sign language) for people with hearing impairments in the field of medical services. Medical services for people with hearing impairments were becoming more accessible in Ukraine before the full-scale war.
In 2021, the CMU made a revolutionary decision to amend Resolution No. 410 dated April 25, 2018, according to which, starting from April 1, 2022, the proposal submitted by an entity wishing to conclude a contract with the NHSU for medical services under the medical guarantees program must contain a scanned copy of a document in electronic form confirming the provision of translation into Ukrainian sign language (from Ukrainian sign language). In case of failure to submit this document as part of the Proposal, the Proposal of such an entity shall not be considered and the contract shall not be concluded.
After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, the changes to the provision of sign language interpretation for communication between a sign-speaking patient and a medical professional were canceled for the period of martial law and a month after its cancellation. This means that the effort to ensure effective communication with doctors has fallen on patients with hearing impairment, which means financial costs and psychological burden.
In order to prevent cases of serious consequences for people with hearing impairments and to ensure that people with hearing impairments have access to medical services, we asked to take measures to initiate a review in order to repeal the provisions of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 529 of May 03, 2022 (which apply from May 1, 2022), according to which, for the period of martial law and within a month after its cancellation, the requirements of the Procedure approved by this resolution regarding the availability of a document confirming the existence of a document in the proposal to conclude an agreement of a business entity
The text of the letter we received from the NHSU reads:
"The NHSU has developed draft amendments to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 410 of April 25, 2018 "On Contracts for Medical Services to the Population under the Medical Guarantees Program" in terms of restoring the provision for business entities that want to conclude a contract for the provision of medical services with the NHSU (except for those business entities located in the territory of active hostilities or temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, which is included in the list of territories where hostilities are (were) conducted or temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation) to submit a document confirming the existence of the contract.
Taking into account the above, and realizing the need to amend the current legislation in terms of the issues raised in the Letter, the NHSU will assist in realizing the rights of people with hearing disabilities, overcoming the communication and information barrier, and ensuring equal access to medical services for all patients.
The priority of the NHSU is the effective implementation of the medical guarantees program in the interests of all patients, so that everyone has affordable and appropriate treatment."
The full text of the letter is below.
