The meeting was attended by Presidential Aide and Secretary of the State Council Alexei Dyumin, Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko, and Chair of the Commission and Astrakhan Region Governor Igor Babushkin, as well as plenipotentiary presidential envoys to federal districts, representatives of federal authorities, heads of regions, and others. The participants addressed matters of rehabilitation and re-socialisation of the SMO veterans and their adaptation to peaceful life.
In his opening remarks, Alexei Dyumin emphasised that the President personally oversees all matters related to support for the SMO veterans and their families. Developing measures for medical and psychological rehabilitation of the SMO veterans is the first and most pressing issue. This involves creating a system that includes mental health diagnosis and subsequent rehabilitation. It is important to establish comprehensive cooperation between military medical institutions and the civilian healthcare system. Above all, this will ensure the transfer of medical diagnoses.
According to the Presidential Aide, special attention should be paid to the SMO participants who suffer from various disorders related to the post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological and psychotherapeutic help should be available to the SMO participants immediately after demobilisation. Specialists in this field must be included in the medical examination process.
The State Council Secretary also placed an emphasis on employment for veterans. Alexei Dyumin called for a change in the situation where a significant number of employers do not fully understand the importance of this issue. This requires additional incentives to motivate employers, as well as the creation of special professional adaptation programmes. The Presidential Aide also drew attention to the importance of informing each combatant about the benefits to which they are entitled. Interagency regional commissions play an important role in providing such information.
Astrakhan Region Governor and Chair of the Commission Igor Babushkin noted that the commission has been tasked with improving cooperation between government agencies, the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, and other entities in order to create the most effective system for working with the SMO veterans and their families. To do this, it is imperative to resolve a whole range of organisational, legal, and financial issues.