Tetyana Khutor, Chairman of the Institute of Legislative Ideas, commented for Vox Ukraine on the implementation of the reform of the system of determining and establishing disability, which came into force in Ukraine on 1 January 2025
It is aimed at overcoming the corruption risks that accompanied the previous system of medical and social expertise (MSEC) and ensuring transparency and trust in the process of assessing the functional state of individuals. Tetyana Khutor stressed that the changes in the system are the result of many years of work by NGOs and experts who have been involved in analysing problems and formulating solutions. The problem with corruption scandals in regional MSECs has been known for quite some time, which is why in 2021 the NACP conducted a study ‘Top 10 Corruption Risks of Medical and Social Expertise on Disability Determination’, and the Institute of Legislative Ideas joined the more recent study in 2024. The research results became an important argument for developing new approaches that are currently being implemented.
According to Tetyana Khutor, the reform can be considered an important step forward, as it introduces a number of anti-corruption mechanisms that should significantly reduce the risks of abuse. Among them, special attention should be paid to the fact that a person will not know the composition of the expert team because it will change for each case. This eliminates any direct contact, which was one of the key factors of corruption risks. In addition, the introduction of electronic document management significantly increases the transparency of the process, as all decisions will now be documented and stored digitally.
‘Of course, it will not be possible to completely eliminate corruption in this area, but these innovations should reduce the opportunities for participation in corruption schemes and restore trust in the system,’ said Khutor.
The reform of the disability system demonstrates how the expert approach and the participation of civil society organisations help to solve complex social problems. The Institute of Legislative Ideas will continue to support the transparency and effectiveness of new processes aimed at ensuring the rights of people with disabilities.
Read more in Tatiana Khutor's commentary for Vox Ukraine