With this appeal, the Association of Representatives of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers AIPM Ukraine (hereinafter – the Association) expresses the position of its member companies regarding the proposal of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to strengthen regulation in the field of advertising of medicinal products in order to fulfill the provisions of the coalition agreement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Advocating the principles of responsible advertising and ethical promotion of medicinal products, based on the leading world and European experience, we are convinced that today, regulation in the field of advertising of medicinal products is sufficient and complies with European rules. The main requirements and principles for the advertising of medicinal products are determined by the Law of Ukraine On Medicinal Products and the Law of Ukraine On Advertising, which were amended on 20.12.2011 by the Law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine in the Field of Health Care on Strengthening Control of Circulation medicinal products, food products for special dietary consumption, functional food products and dietary supplements”. Recent innovations have introduced a number of significant restrictions on the ability to advertise medicinal products. We would like to remind you that in accordance with the current legislation, advertising of prescription drugs (hereinafter – Rx drugs) is prohibited, and advertising of over-the-counter drugs (hereinafter – OTC drugs) is significantly limited, and in some cases even prohibited. The list of criteria for determining over-the-counter medicinal products, the advertising of which is prohibited, was approved by the Order of the Ministry of Health on some issues of banning the advertising of medicinal products No. 422 dated 06.06.2012. These criteria were developed based on the practice of European countries.