Ukrainian Health Ministry, MSD sign memorandum of cooperation

02.09.2021 09:18

Ukrinform

The Ukrainian Health Ministry has signed a memorandum of cooperation with U.S. pharmaceutical company MSD as part of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the United States, the ministry's press service has said.

"The Ministry of Health is interested in developing the potential of Ukraine's healthcare system, and strengthening cooperation with MSD is strategic for Ukraine's healthcare system, especially in times of a pandemic," Health Minister Viktor Liashko was quoted as saying.

It is a priority for the Ministry of Health to increase the supply of innovative drugs and immunobiological drugs on the Ukrainian market and to create opportunities for their production in Ukraine on the basis of international partnership, which is one of the steps towards pharmaceutical independence. Of particular interest in the localization of production is the adoption of the law on state support for projects with significant investments -- so-called investments nannies -- and the maturity of the regulatory system in the circulation of medicines.

Cooperation with MSD on a mutually beneficial basis will enable Ukraine to treat patients with COVID-19 with innovative medicines.

"Ukraine will soon be able to receive innovative drugs against COVID-19 manufactured by MSD," Liashko said.

MSD also said it was interested in helping the Ukrainian Health Ministry conduct screening programs as part of the implementation of the Ukrainian president's Healthy Ukraine program.