On 08.10.2015 a briefing on topical issues of Ukraine’s health system involving Health Minister in Ukraine Alexander Kvitashvili and the Deputy of Minister of Health in Ukraine Oleksandra Pavlenko had taken place, during which it was informed of the state of medicines’ public procurement, legislative regulation of transplantation in Ukraine.

Alexander Kvitashvili said that last week the Ministry of Health announced the selection of international organizations which it will work with for public procurement in 2015. In particular, it is the United Nations System, namely the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UNICEF, as well as the procuring organization Crown Agents (UK).

According to the minister, with the help of international organizations and basing on 7 state programs the medicines will be purchased. Through UNICEF – vaccines, through UNDP – medicines to treat tuberculosis, HIV / AIDS, viral hepatitis, Orf diseases, through Crown Agents – medicines for the treatment of hematology and cancer. Thus, 30% of the state budget allocated to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine for centralized procurement of medicines will be developed with the help of international organizations, which is about 1.5 billion. “We will try to make these programs go through international organizations without any problem, to end the story with a deficit of medicines in the country once and for all”, – said Alexander Kvitashvili.

As for the legislative regulation of transplantation in Ukraine, Olexandra Pavlenko said that with the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and leading transplant surgeons the bill “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on transplantation of organs and other anatomic human materials.” was developed. With this initiative transplant surgeons appealed to the Ministry in February this year. To speed up the process of adoption of the bill, it was given to MPs, who registered a draft of document in the Government on July 16 (reg. №2386). In particular, the MPs of Ukraine, members of the Health Committee Oleg Musiy, Irina Sysoyenko, Constantine Yarynich and Alex Kirichenko supported the initiative.

The bill provides a number of changes not only in the Law of Ukraine “On transplantation of organs and other anatomic human materials”, but also “On the burial and funeral business,” “On the basis of health,” and changes to the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine. The bill increases criminal penalties for violation of legislation in the field of transplantation. As for the substantive changes, it was suggested to consolidate legislatively the concept of brain death, to distinguish the notion of living and dead donor, and more.

The Ministry of Health expects the adoption of the law this autumn. “The bill is registered, and we expect that after the summer it will be included on the agenda”, – added Alexander Pavlenko.

The complete text of the briefing can be found here: http://www.apteka.ua/article/340753