Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, deems necessary to elaborate a systematic approach to the settlement of problems of the soldiers-internationalists and secure governmental support of not only participants of combat operations, but also their families.
M.Tomenko dwelled upon the above-mentioned issues at the meeting with the participants of combat operations in Afghanistan who are currently staying at the hospital for soldiers-internationalists "Lisova Poliana".
Dwelling upon the social protection of the soldiers-internationalists, the Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine informed the participants that he managed to persuade the State leaders to adopt and sign the Bill "On the Social Protection of Family Members of the Participants of Combat Operations, and Burial of the Participants of Combat Operations" that extends the range of persons liable to the conditions of social protection as determined by the Law of Ukraine "On the Status of War Veterans, Safeguards of their Social Security". Mykola Tomenko stated that the Law would come into force on 1 July 2009.
Mykola Tomenko deems necessary to enhance the quality of diagnostics and treatment of veterans. Thus, he believes that the issue of medical assistance should be settled not only at the national level, but also at the level of regional councils and, probably, at the hospitals for the participants of the Great Patriotic War. "We should secure timely, quality and free medical treatment of these people. This will be fair", - stated Mykola Tomenko.