Ukraine has launched an innovative experimental project enabling defenders to participate in a military medical commission (MMC) remotely. This applies to military personnel who cannot return to the country due to health issues.
The decision was made by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, as reported by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health.
Changes will affect service members undergoing treatment abroad for 12 months. All branches of the country's defense forces, including civil protection and police, can complete the MMC remotely since they have suffered due to the war.
The government decree also specifies a list of illnesses that permit remote medical examinations. This includes defenders with:
- malignant tumors;
- eye and appendage diseases;
- head injuries;
- spinal cord and nerve injuries;
- internal organ injuries;
- extremity injuries;
- thermal and chemical burns.
How will the remote MMC function?
Initially, the defender or their legal representative must submit documents from a foreign medical institution to the military unit, translated into Ukrainian and certified. The documents must include a diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 or ICD-11). The military unit will forward the received documents to the MMC, which must review them within 10 days. After that, medical professionals will decide on fitness for service. The MMC will also issue a certificate for the military unit commander. Upon returning to Ukraine, there will be no requirement for the defender who underwent the remote examination to repeat the MMC. The experimental project will be in effect for one year from the date of the government's decree. Previously, the Cabinet simplified the procedure for obtaining electronic referrals for the MMC.
