For the first time in many years, the Government will fully provide people with disabilities with technical aids, Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said on the occasion of International Day of People with Disabilities, which is marked on December 3.

“Our goal by the end of this year is to fully meet the needs of people with disabilities in what they need most avoiding prioritization and selectivity. For these purposes, we allocate additional funding. This money will be directed to provide with wheelchairs, prosthetic devices, orthoses - everything that will make the life of people with disabilities more comfortable”, said Oleksiy Honcharuk.

The Government has already allotted an additional UAH 82 million to purchase rehabilitation equipment for people with disabilities. Subsequently, another sum worth almost UAH 787 million was earmarked for these purposes. An additional 250,000 products for people and children with disabilities will be produced for this money.

Regional social welfare departments have already received funding for these needs.

The Prime Minister also added that as of next week, anyone could receive a free consultation or leave an appeal by calling the 1539 hotline.

Hotline 1539 will allow to promote the respect for the rights of persons with disabilities and is implemented with the support of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Secretariat.

The Government is currently working to ensure that people with disabilities receive social services by telephone. In particular, it is about providing such services by the Pension Fund.

Background

On December 2, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, together with the Council of Europe, for the first time organized an Open Space Forum on the occasion of the International Day of People with Disabilities, which brought together more than 200 participants. There took place a presentation of the Government's plans to expand social services for people with disabilities in communities, initiatives to create equal competitive working conditions with the support of business associations, improve state building standards for planning the spatial development of villages and cities, taking into account the needs of people with disabilities, rehabilitation and inclusive education etc.