Ukraine takes significant step towards launching national medicines verification system with 2D coding
On 24 July, an online meeting of stakeholders was held to discuss the implementation of a national medicines verification system using 2D coding.
The meeting was attended by Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Care and Health Insurance, Deputy Minister of Health for Digital Development Maria Karchevych, as well as representatives from business associations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy chains, international experts, and the SAFEMed project.
Participants discussed the current progress of the initiative and the necessary steps to launch the system within the legally mandated timeframe. Key topics included the legal registration of the National Medicines Verification Organisation, the selection of a technical provider, and the start of the system’s technical rollout.
An updated implementation model was presented, enabling the launch of a fully functional solution with limited external access while meeting all technical requirements of the European Medicines Verification Organisation (EMVO). This approach allows the reform to move forward and enables practical implementation using a proven model compliant with European standards.
This creates opportunities for the gradual onboarding of market participants and successful testing of key processes, which will facilitate swift integration into the European system following Ukraine’s EU accession.
Maria Karchevych emphasised that the national medicines verification system is a strategic component of pharmaceutical sector reform, enhancing control over the circulation of medicines, preventing counterfeit products from entering pharmacy networks, and increasing patient trust in the healthcare system.
Mykhailo Radutskyi highlighted that implementing medicines verification with 2D coding is a legal obligation under Ukraine’s European integration commitments. He urged manufacturers to actively participate in the system’s launch, underscoring its importance for enabling Ukrainian medicines to access the European market.
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine expresses gratitude to its international partners, particularly the “Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines for Ukrainians” (SAFEMed) project, and all participants for their active cooperation and constructive dialogue.