Ukraine's Health Ministry has presented a concept for reforming the medicine and medical products procurement system to the public. The document envisages the creation of centralized procurement organizations and three implementation phases in 2016-2018.

According to the concept posted on the ministry's website, at the first phase (2016) the institutional and legislative basis for reforming the healthcare procurement system will be created. A decision to create centralized procurement organization in the form of state-run enterprises will be made.

The second phase (2016-2017) includes the introduction of modern operation methods for these organizations. The proper material and technical base of the organizations will be formed. The ministry will conduct pilot medicine and medical products procurement, taking one centralized program as an example.

As for the third phase (2018), the united information system for organizing medicine, immunobiological preparations and medical products procurement tenders on a nationwide scale will be introduced. Effective procurement will be conducted under five centralized programs.

According to the concept, powers of the Health Ministry and other customers in medicine procurement will be transferred to centralized procurement organizations. Requirements to medicine selection, tender documents and requests will be unified. Procurement information will be presented at least in two languages (Ukrainian and English).

The centralized procurement organizations will be created in line with a self-financing principle. Sources of financing could be budget funds, donors' money and other sources not prohibited in Ukrainian legislation.