Including of pharmaceutical industry to the list of priority sectors of the economy will benefit its development for safety and health of nation

Kseniia Velychko, GR Manager of Darnytsia Pharmaceutical Company

In the last few years the pharmaceutical industry faced unprecedented challenges. COVID-19 pandemic immensely hit the pharmaceutical industry influencing all stages of company operations — from purchasing raw materials and production to cooperation of doctors and patients.

With the start of large-scale war the challenges got bigger; russia’s military aggression deeply affected the supply chain, logistics and distribution of the industry, and created significant risks for business operations. For now the load on Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry is immense.

It is important to mention that the dialogue and transparency between pharmaceutical companies from the first day of military entrance, flexible changes of branch legislation and sometime even nontrivial measures from state and business let to quick adaptation of industry to new conditions.

Uninterrupted manufacture of pharmaceutical products, providing services for need of Ministry of Healthcare, medical institutions and pharmacies/people is a priority for Darnytsia Pharmaceutical Company.

COVID-19 pandemic shown and large-scale war confirmed that the pharmaceutical industry is a strategic industry and integral part of the national security of Ukraine.

At the end of July the Government made a decision on including the pharmaceutical industry to the list of priority sectors of the economy. The experts believe that corresponding decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will help to get investment support of the pharmaceutical industry, increase the amount of workplaces, and avoid collapse in provision of pharmaceuticals to the medical system.

This Decision is now the first step, so the market players are looking forward to further steps of the Government. First of all, the manufacturers need formed strategy of development of native pharmaceutical industry as an integral part of healthcare system. It is important to understand long-term plans for the development of healthcare system, programs of replacement of pharmaceuticals value and public procurement for a long term. The government order of pharmaceuticals based on long-term products will let national manufacturers invest in new equipment, expand capacities of production and create workplaces. Further we expect from the Government assistance in removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers for our national manufacturers to enter the European market particularly by mutual recognition of Good Manufacturing Practice Quality Certificates.

So, we welcome the decision on including the pharmaceutical industry to the list of priority sectors of the economy and look forward to the announcement of further steps in this direction.