Over 2M iodine does to be delivered to Ukraine

In the coming hours, Ukraine will receive more than 2 million iodine doses amid shortage which has arisen in the pharmacy network.

Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Care, and Health Insurance, shared the news at a national telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the lawmaker, certain delays in supplies are due to logistical issues provoked by the Russian aggression. The same applies to supplies of over-the-counter sedatives. “These medicines are mostly of domestic production. All Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies have already set up their manufacture. I think there will be sufficient amounts in pharmacies in the coming days,” Radutskyi said. Also, according to the legislator, hormonal drugs have already been purchased: in the coming days and their shortage will be tackled.

The main thing is that pharmacies are now open wherever possible, Radutskyi stressed, adding that in the first weeks of Russian aggression, most of them, especially commercial ones, remained closed.

In addition, Radutskyi assured that the Ministry of Health would soon resolve the issue of medication deliveries to regions where active hostilities are ongoing.

At the same time, he did not rule out the shortage of other medicines - primarily due to the already mentioned issues with logistics. Radutskyi appealed to Ukrainians not to provoke shortages and refrain from stocking up on medication for more than a month’s period.

According to Health Minister Viktor Liashko, at least 10,000 pharmacies are currently operating in Ukraine. The official assured that there were enough medicines and medics in the country. Drug deliveries across pharmacy networks have been established. The Minister says in case particular medicines are unavailable in pharmacies, customers should reach out to the health ministry’s hotline at 080 060 20 19.

As reported earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin put his "early deterrence" nuclear forces on high alert, in an apparent attempt to intimidate the west and put more pressure on Ukraine amid the ongoing invasion.

A number of EU member states, including Belgium, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic, ran out of iodine stocks amid reports of Russia's aggression targeting Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

Ukraine's authorities have repeatedly warned that Russia's irresponsible moves targeting NPPs pose a threat of a radioactive disaster that could affect the entire continent.

At the moment. Russia maintains control over the premises of two Ukrainian nuclear stations - Chornobyl and Zaporizhia, with the latter being Europe's largest.

It is known that iodine prevents a human thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive material.