Organization of rehabilitation and habilitation programs for persons with disabilities due to musculoskeletal disorders in the Russian Federation

Because of extensive changes in social protection laws in the Russian Federation (RF), as well as ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the organization of rehabilitation for disabled persons with musculoskeletal disorders has especially become relevant. Aim To improve the organizational and legal mechanisms for implementing individual programs of rehabilitation or habilitation of disabled persons with musculoskeletal system diseases in RF. Materials and Methods The authors analyzed existing international and Russian literature. The study used analytical, legal, organizational, and methodological techniques aimed at perfecting the system for rehabilitation of disabled adults and children. Results In RF, the “disabled child” category was established for the first time for more than 70,000 children (70,600 in 2013 and 72,800 in 2014) according to governmental statistics of the Institutions of Medical and Social Examination, and more than 340,000 individual rehabilitation programs for disabled children were established, including for those recognized as disabled children for the first time and for those who were re-recognized as disabled children. The disability due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue was established for the first time in 3,500 children and is the fifth highest ranking primary disability in RF. Conclusion The introduction of fundamentally new federal schemes of implementing individual programs of rehabilitation or habilitation requires the authorities of RF to be experienced in the field of health promotion to create the organizational and legal mechanisms for implementing such programs. Thus, the features of regional rehabilitation infrastructure, medical care and monitoring should be considered.