The government has announced changes in the approach to the prosthetics system and the creation of new opportunities for the development of the modern bionic prosthetics manufacturing market in Ukraine.
“Prosthetics is today one of the main tasks in the field of social policy. We must ensure that everyone in need—both military and civilians—receives a quality prosthesis on time. We want this market to grow, with more Ukrainian manufacturers emerging,” said Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
She added that the government plans to launch grants for bionic prosthetics.
“The procedure for obtaining prosthetics for military personnel and affected civilians must be simple, transparent, and as fast as possible. That is why the Ministry of Social Policy is preparing a comprehensive vision that will overhaul the system. This direction is one of my priorities as minister and will receive significant attention. A prosthesis is not just a technical tool but a means to return a person to a full, dignified life after injury,” said the Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine, Denys Uliutin.
During a visit to the bionic prosthetics manufacturer Esper Bionics, which has successfully scaled internationally and now has offices in New York and Berlin, the Prime Minister and Minister of Social Policy familiarized themselves with innovative Ukrainian technologies.
Esper Bionics’ flagship product—the Esper Hand bionic prosthesis—was included in TIME’s list of best inventions. The company currently produces about 50 bionic hands per month and plans to increase production to 500 per year. The new generation of prosthetics being prepared for launch will be technologically advanced and more affordable. This will align with the maximum prosthetic cost set by the state for free provision to persons with disabilities and military personnel who lost limbs due to participation in combat.
This week, meetings also took place with rehabilitation specialists, manufacturers, and rehabilitation center leaders. Based on the outcomes, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Health, will develop a clear plan to address problematic issues.
Denys Uliutin emphasized that the prosthetics system must become part of the full rehabilitation route for a person. Currently, the Ministry of Social Policy is focusing on three key tasks in this area:
- Prosthetics as part of rehabilitation — with a clear route: from the moment of amputation to prosthesis fitting, training in its use, support, and returning the person to a full life. This includes the role of communities in adapting, supporting, and employing individuals after prosthesis fitting.
- Transparent pricing at every stage of assistance, which will allow more efficient use of funds and cover a larger number of people undergoing prosthetics.
- State support for the development of Ukrainian prosthetics manufacturers to ensure systemic provision of people with high-quality, modern prosthetics.
