From 26 August 2026, updated conditions for referring citizens to social services have been in force in Belarus. The changes are provided for by Resolution of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Ministry of Health No. 58/87 of 30 July 2026.
The document clarifies medical indications and contraindications for the provision of certain social services. It separately defines the conditions for referring adults and children with disabilities to social rehabilitation and habilitation.
The changes also affect the provision of palliative care to children. If a child requires invasive interventions, including artificial ventilation of the lungs, such care must be provided in the relevant healthcare organisations — baby homes and hospices.
For people with disabilities and their families, these changes matter primarily because they clarify the conditions for receiving assistance and referral to the relevant institutions.
At the same time, the update of the list of medical indications and contraindications should not be taken as an automatic expansion of access to social services for everyone. Whether a particular service can be obtained depends on the established conditions and the individual situation.