Health Ministry to start medicine purchases via UN-related organizations, British Crown Agents
The first purchases by the Ukrainian Health Ministry via international organizations will be handled through organizations that belong to the UN family, namely UNDP, UNICEF and WHO, as well as the British international development company Crown Agents.
"Our first choice is the United Nations – all the organizations that are part of the UN, and Crown Agents from the United Kingdom," Health Minister Alexander Kvitashvili said at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.
Finalization of technical details related to the signing of contracts with these entities is nearing completion, he said.
"We are discussing the details of the contracts. The contracts will provide for the payment of administrative expenses of international organizations, which will be paid by us, but the money will be used for the needs of Ukraine. Next week, we'll be able to wrap up the procedure of the signing of the contracts," he added.
Procurements worth UAH 1.5 billion, which is about 30% of total state procurement, will be handled through the international organizations, Kvitashvili said. In future, the list of state programs under which medicines will be procured via international organizations will be expanded.
Medicines under eight state programs will be bought through the international organizations, Deputy Health Minister Ihor Perehynets said. Namely, these are medicines and test systems for the treatment of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Other programs are those for pediatric oncology and oncohematology, pediatric hemophilia; prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis of adults and children; and nutrition for children with rare diseases.
"Our focus was socially important programs, such as pediatric oncology and oncohematology, as well as key programs from the public health program – tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis," Perehynets said.
Neal Walker, Humanitarian Coordinator, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine said the UN organizations do not yet have all the required items to be provided within the framework of state programs to Ukraine.
At the same time, he said it is important to international organizations that a transparent need for medicines is ensured within the framework of such cooperation.
