• Українською
  • Viktor Liashko: We continue to work with international partners to reform the pharmaceutical sector and supply chains
    Ministry of Health of Ukraine, posted 27 June 2023 15:20

    Minister of Health Viktor Liashko, together with Deputy Minister of Health for European Integration Maryna Slobodnichenko, met with the leadership of the USAID mission, the SAFEMed project and representatives of the international non-profit organisation Management Sciences for Health to identify and work out priorities for further cooperation with the Ministry.

    “First of all, I would like to sincerely thank the entire American people for their tremendous support since the first day of the full-scale war, for helping us fight for our independence and defend the values of the democratic world. Together we have withstood the COVID-19 pandemic, and together we are confronting the invasion of russian terrorists. Maintaining the healthcare system in times of war is a challenging task, but we are doing it with dignity. Ukraine’s medical sector is not only responding to military challenges, but also moving towards strategic transformation and development. Together with you, we will continue to work on reforming the pharmaceutical industry and supply chains to provide Ukrainians with quality medicines,” said Viktor Liashko.

    Participants discussed key areas of cooperation to ensure that the work plan of international partners is aligned with the priorities of the Ministry, which is crucial for the successful implementation of joint projects.

    The Minister stressed that the Ministry of Health was actively involved in the SAFEMed project to evaluate medical technologies. A lot of work has already been done and there are significant results. The State Expert Centre has a separate unit – the Department of Medical Technology Assessment and Rational Pharmacotherapy – which is responsible for implementing the medical technology assessment tool in Ukraine in accordance with international best practice at the national level. However, according to the Minister, there is a need to move forward and to ensure further development, it is necessary to establish a separate independent agency for medical technology assessment.

    Also on the agenda is the creation of a single regulatory authority for the circulation of medicines and other medical products. This is provided for in the new Law of Ukraine “On medicinal products”, which is in line with EU and WHO recommendations and is a further step towards bringing the Ukrainian system of medicines circulation in line with EU legislation.

    Among other things, the meeting discussed the prospects for the introduction of a high quality and efficient 2D coding system for medicines in Ukraine, which is essential to ensure the safety and quality of medicines for patients. Consultations with market stakeholders are ongoing.

    Joint work will continue in the context of European integration changes in the regulation of the pharmaceutical market, namely: recognition of GMP certificates and preparation for the signing and implementation of the ACAA Agreement (Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products), which will help accelerate Ukraine’s integration into the EU pharmaceutical market.

    Participants also discussed institutionalising last-mile delivery of anti-tuberculosis and antiretroviral drugs, as there are certain problems with their availability in remote areas and villages. Mechanisms are being developed to address this issue.