Kyiv, February 27, 2015 – The Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine has prepared a bill that would allow state procurement of vaccines via UNICEF, as well as other international organizations such as World Health Organization and the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, funds and medication provided by UNICEF are going to be used for a retrospective vaccination for all children who missed regular procedures since 2008. Alexander Kvitashvili, Minister of Healthcare of Ukraine, announced the news during the press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “Only four UNICEF vaccines are delivered out of 14 registered in Ukraine. We can increase this number up to eight vaccines within the next 1,5 months after the parliamentary approval of our bill,” Mr. Kvitashvili has emphasized.
Aleksandr Kvitashvili noted how changes to the vaccines’ state procurement rules could significantly reduce budget expenses. “We can save up to $1.5 million on every lot if we buy at least 4 vaccines through UNICEF,” he said. The new procedure would make the entire process more predictable and transparent.
The overall budget for vaccines’ procurements in 2015 is 571 million hryvnias.
The Health Minister also said that predictability of deliveries plays a key role in this process. These will include developing long-term relations with UNICEF, as well as detailed supply and procurement schedules. “We will be able to get rid of a serious corruption factor in the Ministry and purchase high-quality vaccines that will be delivered in the right time,” Mr. Kvitashvili said. He highlighted, once again, that all tenders among medical suppliers are going to be open and transparent.
International organizations also provide vaccines as part of the humanitarian aid to Ukraine. “We have received 2.7 million dozes of polio vaccines estimated at $3 million already,” Mr. Kvitashvili concluded.
