On 8 September 2025, on World Physical Therapy Day, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine published a draft Standard for Rehabilitation Care for Spinal Cord Injuries. This is the first document of its kind in Ukrainian medicine, defining a unified approach to providing care for people with severe injuries.

It was created not only by medical experts, but also by the patients themselves — those who overcome the consequences of their injuries every day and know the value of every step, every movement, every return to life.

The new standard provides for:

• prioritising patient safety and dignity;
• the use of evidence-based practices and techniques;
• multidisciplinary interaction between specialists.

This is not just a set of instructions. It is a language of compassion and responsibility that says, ‘We are with you. We will not leave you alone with your pain.’

The introduction of the standard integrates Ukrainian rehabilitation into global practice and, most importantly, gives thousands of people hope and real opportunities for recovery and a full life.