Transparency and trust: an update of the study on the reform of the MSEC

The Institute of Legislative Ideas (ILI) together with the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) presented an updated study on medical and social expertise (MSEC). This step is an important response to the current challenges facing Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to create a transparent, efficient, and fair system that will meet the needs of society and support the country's defense capability.

Tetyana Khutor, Head of the ILI, spoke about the importance of this work:

"Transparency and fairness in the field of medical and social expertise is not only a matter of social protection but also a key element in strengthening the state's defense capability. The proposed recommendations are based on a comprehensive approach: from an in-depth analysis of legislation and court decisions to anonymous interviews with military personnel, civilian patients, and representatives of medical institutions. Their swift implementation will form the basis for reforms that will introduce a new standard of trust in society and increase the efficiency of the state."

Key achievements of the study:

• In-depth analysis of legislation and court decisions. The updated study takes into account all relevant legal acts and their application.
• Collection of real stories. Through anonymous interviews with military personnel, civilian patients, and representatives of medical institutions, the team received real-life examples that reveal the essence of the existing problems.
• Practical recommendations. The proposals are developed with the interests of all parties in mind and should be as easy to implement as possible.

The ILI experts, together with the NACP experts, identified the sources and identified the ten main corruption risks of the MSEC in establishing disability. These are:

1. corrupt arrangements based on personal contact between the applicant and the head or member of the MSEC;
2. mediation of a state body official in reaching a corrupt agreement with the head and/or members of the MSEC;
3. regional cooperation between the chairperson and/or members of different ISECs to obtain an unlawful benefit;
4. mediation of citizens without the status of officials or employees in reaching a corrupt agreement with the chairman and/or members of the MSEC;
5. speeding up the preparation of a referral and the necessary package of documents for the MSEC by a doctor without signs of forgery in case of obtaining an unlawful benefit;
6. preparation by a doctor of a package of forged primary documents without assistance in further decision-making by the MSEC;
7. ‘complex’ corrupt service - ‘turnkey’ disability;
8. use of paperwork for corrupt practices by the MSEC;
9. issuance of fictitious disability documents by the MSEC to military personnel to facilitate their illegal crossing of the state border;
10. Conspiracy of the MSEC doctors to extort unlawful benefits from citizens.

NAPC Chairman Viktor Pavlushchyk drew attention to the need for active action:

"The implementation of the recommendations provided by the NACP requires an active position of the relevant authorities. Only then will it be possible to minimize the identified corruption risks, meet the requirements for the incompatibility of corrupt practices in the procedures of medical and social examination to establish disability, and reduce the burden on law enforcement and judicial systems"

The ILI team emphasizes that the work is not over. We are going to actively support the implementation of the recommendations in practice. The proposed changes will help to create a new level of trust and transparency in society, as well as strengthen public administration.

Together we are building a future based on transparency and justice!