Barrier-Free Council Convenes for 2026 Session
Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and First Lady Olena Zelenska chaired the first 2026 meeting of the Barrier-Free Council. The session reviewed progress and future plans under the National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment, focusing on healthcare, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and hospital management. This strategy is a key government priority for improving accessibility and social inclusion, particularly following the extensive needs generated by the war.
The meeting included government officials, parliament members, international partners, city mayors, and civil society leaders. Data shows that nearly half a million people underwent rehabilitation in Ukraine last year, with over 36,000 patients receiving such care in the first two months of 2026 alone. The 2026 state budget allocates 7.43 billion UAH for outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation—an increase of over 1 billion UAH from the previous year and nearly 3.7 times the pre-war funding level.
New Initiatives and Strategic Plans
New initiatives include a pilot project for a nursing care hospital in Lviv. The Council also approved a Roadmap for reforming the prosthetics system and an Implementation Plan for 2026. Furthermore, the government intends to update the hospital management model by introducing mandatory supervisory boards where the majority of votes will be held by community representatives.
Ukraine currently operates seven clinical multidisciplinary rehabilitation centers of excellence. At the end of 2025, the Ministry of Health approved the first standards for rehabilitation care. Work also continues on establishing outpatient rehabilitation spaces within local communities.
“Developing the rehabilitation assistance system is one of the strategy's key directions,” noted meeting participants.
“A barrier-free environment means being able to complete your rehabilitation journey without obstacles,” emphasized the Ministry of Health.
The National Strategy for a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine envisions a comprehensive approach to ensuring service accessibility for all citizens. The Roadmap for Prosthetics System Reform and its 2026 Implementation Plan are significant steps in this direction. A nationwide social change campaign, 'Barrier-Free Means You Can,' has also been launched to raise public awareness about the importance of an accessible environment.
This Council meeting underscores the Ukrainian government's commitment to improving service accessibility for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The substantial increase in rehabilitation funding and initiatives to enhance the prosthetics system demonstrate gradual progress in this critical area. Moving forward, monitoring the implementation of these measures and their impact on the quality of life for those in need will be essential.