Scandals around medicine public procurement via intl organizations initiated by ex-health minister Bohatyriova - expert
KYIV. March 10 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Scandals around medicine public procurement via international organizations have been initiated by the 'family' of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and former Health Minister Raisa Bohatyriova, Board Chairman of the National Medical Chamber of Ukraine Serhiy Kravchenko has said.
"The Yanukovych's clan – 'Sasha Dentist,' Raisa Bohatyriova and persons employed by them who are present in Ukraine – are interested in discrediting international medicine procurement using budget funds heard in statements of some nongovernmental organizations towards medicine public procurement aimed at reducing prices and removing corruption. Roman Bohachev [former deputy health minister] is one of them," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine in Kyiv on Wednesday.
Kravchenko said that Bohatyriova and Yanukovych still influence the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market via their persons of influence.
"People who are working with them and continue cooperating are still present in Ukraine and the Health Ministry, the State Service for Medicinal Products and the State Expert Center. In addition, some NGOs that are affiliated with this group of persons fulfill their orders to discredit, press and manipulate and they use stovepiping," he said.
These NGOs include Medcontrol organization which is affiliated with Bohatyriova, Kravchenko said.
"They sling mud at Ukraine's switch to procurement via international organizations. This group of persons is working on discrediting international procurement," he said.
He said that some players of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market are not interested in the introduction of European standards and mechanisms for the registration of medicines in Ukraine.
The National Medical Chamber of Ukraine is NGO that unites 69,000 medical persons. It has 25 regional representative offices.