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    TRUE. Transforming Rehabilitation for Ukraine

    Trauma Rehabilitation for Ukraine (TRUE) is a large-scale initiative aimed at the systemic development of the rehabilitation system in Ukraine.

    TRUE is implemented by the Charitable Foundation “Patients of Ukraine” in cooperation with key Ukrainian stakeholders and professional communities in the fields of rehabilitation and prosthetics — the Charitable Foundation “Protez Hub”, the Ukrainian Physical Therapists Association, and the Ukrainian Society for Speech and Language Therapy — as well as the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.

    We work in coordination with the Adviser–Commissioner of the President of Ukraine on Barrier-Free Environment, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine, and the National Health Service of Ukraine, with the support of international partners.

    Our Goal

    To promote the development of a person-centered and resilient rehabilitation system in Ukraine by strengthening national expertise and implementing international best practices.

    Our Vision

    Rehabilitation in Ukraine should be patient-oriented, active, evidence-based, and accessible to everyone within their community.

    How It All Began

    The full-scale invasion in 2022 placed enormous pressure on Ukraine’s rehabilitation system. The existing network could not cope with the influx of wounded military personnel and civilians with severe injuries. Many patients were sent to sanatoriums instead of multidisciplinary hospitals, which negatively affected their recovery.

    It became clear that urgent systemic changes were needed — rehabilitation had to be integrated into a capable network of medical facilities able to provide care immediately after a patient’s stabilization.

    The first systemic initiative

    Experts who had previously laid the groundwork for rehabilitation reform came together to act. In June 2022, with the support of Switzerland and as part of the activities of the Charitable Foundation “Patients of Ukraine,” the War Trauma Rehabilitation in Ukraine project was launched. From the very beginning, the project combined humanitarian response with a long-term vision for deep, sustainable transformation.

    The project became the first systemic initiative focused on developing rehabilitation policies and standards, integrating rehabilitation processes into the Electronic Health System, training professionals, and supporting hospitals treating the wounded.

    Support and partnership

    Over the next three years, the initiative grew and strengthened its partnerships. In addition to Switzerland, support came from the European Union in Ukraine, Nova Ukraine, UNDP, GIZ, the Belgian Agency for International cooperation Enabel, IREX, and others. This strong partnership — uniting professional communities, state institutions (the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Barrier-Free Environment, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Policy, the National Health Service of Ukraine), and international organizations — enabled consistent, systemic progress in developing rehabilitation at all levels.

    Consistency and Quality

    The War Trauma Rehabilitation in Ukraine initiative evolved into a broader movement driving high-quality, patient-centered rehabilitation. That is why we are moving to a new, expanded format — the TRUE Initiative. Together with our partners, we continue this mission to ensure that rehabilitation in Ukraine is systemic, accessible, high-quality, and responsive to the needs of everyone affected by the war.

    Key Objectives of the TRUE Initiative

    Improving rehabilitation policies and strengthening stakeholder collaboration
    Enhancing coordination among key actors — including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Policy, National Health Service, and others — to ensure coherence and efficiency in rehabilitation development.
    Promoting inclusion and tolerance, and reducing stigma toward people with disabilities by:
    • Building the capacity of civil society organizations that work with people with disabilities.
    • Expanding economic participation opportunities and supporting the reintegration of veterans with complex injuries.
    • Increasing awareness of disability rights among people with disabilities themselves.
    Advancing the quality of rehabilitation services through:
    • Strengthening human capital in the rehabilitation field via undergraduate and postgraduate education, continuous professional development, national and international knowledge exchange.
    • developing a modern educational and methodological framework for higher education institutions and integrating international best practices into the training of future rehabilitation specialists;
    • conducting analytical research in the fields of rehabilitation and healthcare to inform evidence-based public policies that address the actual needs of the system;
    • Increasing the capacity of healthcare facilities within the capable network (those providing essential guaranteed medical services) by equipping them with rehabilitation equipment and assistive technologies, and by training interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams.
    • Establishing sustainable patient pathways at national, regional, and community levels.
    • Developing rehabilitation in intensive care units and expanding pediatric rehabilitation.
    • Strengthening community based rehabilitation, which includes not only rehabilitation services but also related areas such as inclusive education and employment, enabling people to return to active lives.

    How We Work

    Principles

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    Achievements

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    Projects

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    Reports

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    Team

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    Anastasiia Boichuk

    Strategic leader of the TRUE initiative, CF “Patients of Ukraine”
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    Anastasiia Pampukha

    Strategic leader of policy development of the TRUE initiative, lawyer, CF “Patients of Ukraine”
    znimok-ekrana-2024-03-26-o-01.22.12

    Kateryna Tymruk-Skoropad

    Strategic leader of education and development of rehabilitation specialists of the TRUE initiative, CF “Patients of Ukraine”, Ukrainian Physical Therapists Association
    Валентина Оболенцева

    Valentyna Obolentseva

    Strategic leader of the rehabilitation network development of the TRUE initiative, CF “Patients of Ukraine”

    Partners

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    7_Swiss TPH Logo_MSOffice-Web_RGB-color_1-line
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    9_Protez Hub_logo
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    20_Nova_лого
    21_Фонд досліджень
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    24_Coventry-University-Logo
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