A. Yatsenyuk ordered Government to take measures to stabilize situation on medical products market and to reduce drug prices
During the Government session
on Wednesday, April 23, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy
Yatsenyuk ordered to take measures to stabilize the
market of medical products.
He informed that the
Cabinet at its session will consider three draft resolutions relating to this
issue.
The Prime Minister
said that the Government held a meeting with producers and importers of
medicines, representatives of industry associations and associations
representing patients on April 22.
Total market of medicines
and medical products in
Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that the Parliament passed a proposed law by
the Cabinet of Ministers on the reducing VAT on medicines from 20% to 7% and
the establishment of a single VAT rate. The Prime Minister said that he asked yesterday
the State Customs Service to clearance all medicines that are on the customs
without delays.
Other issue of the
Government’s agenda, as the Prime Minister noted concerns the transparency of
tenders in the pharmaceutical industry. He said that the Ministry of Health has
announced a tender for a total of UAH 2.2 billion for the purchase of medicines
and medical products. "I demand that tenders will be transparent this year.
The competition, which is aimed for only one - the lowest price for medicines,"
the PM said.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk also stressed the need to implement the decision
to settle the price of medicines. He noted that the exchange rate over the past
two months has increased by 20% while drug prices increased much more,
sometimes up to 60%: "I appeal to anyone who sells medical products and
drugs if the rate increased by 20%, which means 20% rather than 120%."
Prime Minister
instructed the Ministry of Health to monitor this issue, and the Ministry of
Economic Development and Trade through the State Inspection for Price Control to
control the implementation of decisions for state regulation of prices for
medicines.
"I stand for that
all earn, but I protest that in this extremely difficult situation they earn
through speculation on human life and human problems. Now it is the time when
all should support each other. And this support is in honesty, openness and
transparency and compassion for each other," Mr. A.Yatsenyuk
added.
The Prime Minister
appealed to the Minister of Health to conduct an audit of sales of medicines in
hospitals and health care facilities; "It often happens that the head
doctor is also the owner of a pharmacy in the hospital, and he raises the price
for medicines by 30-40% higher. This is wrong, when in fact the heads use their
administrative position and do business instead treat
patients."
Arseniy Yatsenyuk also stressed the need to consult with European
partners on a system of compensation for the purchased drugs and on the
expansion of the program within the overall reform of the healthcare.
The Prime Minister
said that the draft resolutions that are on the agenda of the session, will
allow people to buy cheaper and better medicines: "So that we move by the
path to develop a new health care system in