The Ministry of Veterans ineffectively managed the activities of the subordinate centers, as a result of which they provided assistance mainly to other categories of citizens, numerous violations in the activities of the centers were revealed to the amount of 4.6 million UAH.
As the Accounting Chamber reports on its website, this is evidenced by the results of the audit of the effectiveness of the use of state budget funds aimed at the implementation of measures for the rehabilitation and re-adaptation of victims of the Revolution of Dignity, the anti-terrorist operation and the repulsion of the armed aggression against Ukraine.
“Yes, due to the lack of approved standards and protocols for psychological rehabilitation, the victims were treated in sanatoriums with physical therapy, phyto tea and mineral water, spending an average of 13.4 thousand UAH per person per course,” the chamber quotes Deputy Chairman of the Accounting Chamber Andrei Maisner.
Meisner notes that the services of psychological rehabilitation were provided by sanatoriums, which did not meet the established criteria: “psychologists without higher education in specific areas of vocational training, the premises of the institutions are not designed for persons with disabilities, etc.”.
In general, the auditors point out that in 2019-2022 the costs for psychological rehabilitation were reduced in 2.7 times (from 623 to 232 million UAH), while 1.8 times increased the amount of funds for spa treatment (from almost 338 million UAH to 624 million UAH). At the same time for four years 62.5 million hryvnia were not used and returned to the state budget.
“This happened because of overestimating the average cost in the planning of expenditures and allocation of allocations among the administrators of the lower level of funds. And also because of the delay of the Ministry of Veterans with the approval of the procedure of formation, maintenance and access to the Registers of providers of psychological rehabilitation services for veterans and members of their families. Another reason for the return of funds is the participation of these individuals in a large-scale war,” the auditors emphasize.
In addition, the Accounts Chamber emphasizes that the Ministry of Veterans has not developed and approved standards for the provision of psychological rehabilitation services. While providing assistance the psychologists did not use international protocols as none of them are implemented in Ukraine. As a result, the victims received substandard services, and the state budget spent UAH 178 million ineffectively.
