Maternity Leave and Sick Leave Abroad: Opportunities for Ukrainian Women
In today’s globalized world, an increasing number of women find themselves abroad due to personal, professional, or other reasons, raising questions about how to obtain sick leave related to pregnancy and childbirth.
In Ukraine, where the social insurance system provides for issuing such benefits for insured persons, there is a crucial question: can women abroad receive an official sick leave, and how can this process be achieved in the context of modern remote cooperation and electronic documentation?The Main Department of the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) in Donetsk region has clarified the rules for issuing sick leave certificates for those temporarily residing outside the country.
According to the officials, the primary basis for granting maternity benefits is a medical conclusion regarding temporary incapacity for work, generated from a sick leave certificate in accordance with Ukrainian legislation “On compulsory state social insurance”.One of the contemporary features during the wartime and post-war periods is the ability of healthcare providers to issue medical conclusions without personal examination of the patient.
This can be done through consultations, surveys, and information exchanges via electronic communication tools, which are recorded in the respective electronic health system registers.
These innovations significantly simplify the process for pregnant women abroad who need to obtain sick leave.Legislation states that a sick leave certificate for pregnancy and childbirth, issued abroad, is based on remote consultations with a Ukrainian-registered doctor, accompanied by copies of relevant medical documents.
This process is facilitated by a declaration between the patient and the healthcare provider within Ukraine.
It is crucial to remember that maternity benefits are granted only if an application is submitted within six calendar months after the end of the maternity leave.Thus, modern systems enable Ukrainian women to receive necessary social assistance for pregnancy and childbirth regardless of their location, provided they follow the established procedures and utilize digital technology opportunities.