REGULATORY AND SUPPORT FOR THE PROVISION OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN UKRAINE

Abstract

This article examines the regulatory framework for palliative care in Ukraine, with emphasis on its social dimension and the implementation of service "015.4 Palliative Care." It reviews current legal instruments regulating the provision of social support for individuals with terminal illnesses, including the conditions, forms, and methods of service delivery, as well as performance benchmarks. Special attention is given to the Order of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine No. 168, dated 29 March 2024, which approved the State Standard for the provision of palliative care as a social service. The content of the service is detailed, along with procedures for developing individual care plans, the role of social work professionals within multidisciplinary teams, inter-agency cooperation, and support for patients' families.The study highlights institutional mechanisms for intersectoral coordination, engagement of non-governmental actors and volunteers, and prospects for partnership-based models in social care. Methodologically, the research is grounded in regulatory analysis and applies structural-functional, comparative, and systems approaches. The paper argues for enhancing the legal basis to better integrate social and medical components, improve service monitoring, expand regional access, and formalise support mechanisms for volunteer engagement. In light of wartime challenges, particular focus is placed on the need to strengthen the role of social services in maintaining continuity of care, adapting legal norms to crisis settings, promoting mobile service formats, and developing palliative care infrastructure at the community level. This integrative approach ensures both systemic coherence and humanitarian responsiveness. The findings provide evidence for improving social policy in the palliative care domain.