On September 27, at the initiative of the Ministry of Health, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to postpone until January 1, 2018 the requirements for the purchase and release of medicines on preferential terms or free of charge according to the updated National List.

The relevant resolution is published on the government portal:

http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/uk/cardnpd?docid=250308012

The national list of essential medicines is a list of safe medicines with proven effectiveness, which the state will guarantee to the patient free of charge.

This will give regions time to more accurately calculate their need for drugs from the National List, and the Ministry of Health will supplement the National List in accordance with consultations with patients and doctors. In September, the Ministry of Health conducted trainings for specialists from the regions on the calculation of the need for medicines according to the approved methodology. In the meantime, we are working together with experts and patient organizations on the composition of the National List, so that people get more effective medicines.

Until the end of the year, healthcare institutions may continue to purchase medicinal products included in the State Register of Medicinal Products of Ukraine, and not included in the National List.

We answer frequently asked questions about the National Census.

1. Why was there a need to update the National List of Essential Medicines and Medical Devices?

The drugs currently purchased by the state do not meet the needs of patients. This is evidenced by the fact that 86% of patients in 2016 bought medicine at their own expense (according to research conducted by USAID/SIAPS Ukraine). So, despite the fact that the state spends billions of hryvnias a year on the purchase of medicines, people’s access to medicines remains limited. This situation had to be changed.

The national list began to be updated in order to provide patients with drugs for the most common and severe diseases, purchasing more effective drugs with proven effectiveness.

Today, half of the budget that the state spends on the purchase of drugs does not go to these necessary drugs. As a result, health care facilities do not provide patients with the most necessary medicines. The list of basic medicines is being reviewed precisely to oblige hospitals to have the most common and necessary drugs and medical products available in full.

2. How is the National List of Essential Medicines Formed?

First, a recommended version of the National List is formed, based on the latest current version of the Basic List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Then the recommended version of the National List is refined taking into account industry standards.

After that, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine approves the new version of the National List.

For the greatest benefit to patients, the Ministry of Health constantly consults with experts and patient organizations about the medicines that people need.

3. How will patients be provided with medicines that were previously prescribed under discounted prescriptions, but were not included in the National List?

Medicines currently purchased through specialized international organizations continue to be purchased independently of the National List (including for the treatment of orphan diseases), and therefore will continue to be provided by the state.

Also, until January 1, 2019, the National Census is not limited to a pilot project on reimbursement of the cost of insulin preparations.

Along with the postponement of the requirement to purchase drugs according to the National List until January 1, 2018, the requirement to prescribe at the outpatient level only those drugs that are included in the National List has also been postponed. And therefore, until the end of the year, doctors can continue to issue discounted prescriptions for drugs that are not included in the National List. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health will work on supplementing the National List with medicines necessary for patients, taking into account the advice of patient organizations.

Also, in order to provide medicines to patients with rare diseases at the expense of local budgets, separate decisions at the state level are required. One of these decisions may be a separate Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the provision of medicines to these patients. The Ministry of Health is actively working on solving this issue.

4. Can health care institutions purchase drugs that are not included in the National List for their patients?

Yes, they can. After health care institutions purchase 100% of the required volume of drugs included in the National List, they can purchase other drugs registered in Ukraine and not included in the National List.

5. Why can’t local hospitals decide for themselves what they should buy from the local budget?

The national list ensures that both at the central and local level, only effective drugs with proven effectiveness and which patients really need for treatment are purchased. This is also necessary to avoid abuses and corruption in procurement at any level.

6. How will medical products and diet food be provided?

Purchases of medical products and diet food are not limited by reference to the National List. Consumables can also be purchased independently of the National List

7. When will the current National List be supplemented?

By 2019, the National List will gradually be filled with medicines and a single list of medicines will be formed, on which purchases will be based. After that, the National List will be reviewed annually.

Medicines that are currently not included in the National List, but are provided from the state budget, can be included in the National List if they have an evidence base of effectiveness.

Manufacturers can also submit applications for the inclusion of medicinal products in the National List.

Published based on the materials of www.moz.gov.ua