Representatives of the Healthcare Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (Chamber) met with Oleksiy Solovyov, Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC), and NSDC Office representatives to discuss current issues in the healthcare sector.
During the meeting, Oleksiy Solovyov noted that in accordance with the legislation and within its competence NSDC analyzes the national security in order to identify real and potential threats to the national interests of Ukraine, in particular in the field of health care.
At the same time, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine directly and through the Ministry of Health of Ukraine secures state policy in healthcare sector.
During the bilateral dialogue the parties discussed:
• The aspects of the healthcare sector that the NSDC Office pays attention to when forecasting and modeling the risks related to access to healthcare services;
• Possibilities of changes in the regulatory system in order to expand access to treatment by appropriate improvement of the text of Draft Law #5547 "On Medicines", developing a proper Draft Law regarding medical devices, signing the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptability of Industrial Products, improvement of protection of intellectual property rights;
• Further possible steps and cooperation between the state and business for counteracting the counterfeit, "grey" imports, and smuggling of medical products.
During the discussion of the need to harmonize some provisions of the Draft Law #5547 "On Medicinal Products" with European legislation, representatives of the NSDC Office supported a balanced approach and the need for a respective transition period to introduce significantly updated legislation on medicines.
Also Oleksiy Solovyov noted that the maximum approximation with EU legislation is fundamental. At the same time, such complete harmonization of the Ukrainian legislation can take place within a reasonable transition period, sufficient to prepare and ensure the implementation of regulations and practices, build the institutional capacity of authorities and prevent the risk of disappearance of life-saving medicines of foreign origin.
When discussing the field of medical devices, the parties agreed on the need to implement modern and European legislation.
It should be noted that the representatives of NSDC Office share the concern about the problems of counterfeiting and illicit trade of medicines, medical devices, and other medical products indicated in the Council of Europe Convention on the Counterfeiting of Medical Products and Similar Crimes involving Threats to Public Health (Medicrime). Oleksiy Solovyov emphasized the importance of the introduction of detailed and qualitative changes to the legislation to prevent and counter the counterfeit and illicit trade of medical products.
Oleksiy Solovyov draw attention of the participants the importance of creating and developing preconditions for intensifying contract manufacturing and transfer of modern technologies in the field of healthcare as a factor of national security and called on the Chamber member companies to provide a vision of such necessary preconditions, incentives, and measures.
We thank Oleksiy Solovyov and authorized representatives of the National Security and Defense Council Office for its readiness for dialogue with the business community and look forward to further fruitful cooperation.
