The list of diseases for unfitness for service may be shortened for military personnel.

According to ТСН: The list of diseases that become reasons for unfitness for military service may be updated for military medical commissions.

Health requirements

Military ombudswoman Olga Reshetilova stated in an interview that military medical commissions are not an in-depth diagnostic tool. She emphasized that if a conscript is aware of their health problems, they should ensure this information is included in their military records.

“Another issue is that in the current version of Order 402 (Regulations on Military Medical Examination in the Armed Forces of Ukraine), the health requirements for those fit for military service have been significantly lowered. And I think it’s unnecessary to explain what this is caused by. It is caused by a shortage of personnel and the need to recruit as many people as possible. Therefore – yes, currently not all healthy people are getting into the army. And it is clear that physical stress and stressful situations often worsen their health condition,” Reshetilova acknowledged.

Exclusion of diseases from the list

In her opinion, the Department of Health of the Ministry of Defense is working on excluding certain diseases from the list that determines fitness for service.

“But there is also a problem in that a serviceman may be fit or partially fit according to a specific list of conditions. And if you have diabetes, radiculitis, high blood pressure, and something else – that changes the whole picture,” the military ombudswoman explained.

Earlier, the question was raised about how often military personnel should undergo military medical commissions in case of health deterioration.

Such changes in the assessment of health status can significantly impact military conscription. Increasing requirements for medical services may reduce the number of recruits entering the army in conditions of personnel shortages. In turn, this may signal doctors to adopt a more thorough approach in determining the fitness of military personnel.