The draft Concept envisages the creation of a centralized purchasing organization (CPO). The authors of the project note that to ensure the success of this process, it will be necessary to involve technical assistance from donors and international organizations.

The draft Concept was developed by the working group on reforming the public procurement system in the field of health care at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, created in October last year. It included experts from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, the State Intellectual Property Service of Ukraine, representatives of the WHO, UNDP, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine, the Project “Systems of improved access to medicines and pharmaceutical services » (SIAPS), business associations and patient organizations, as well as lawyers.

Implementation of the Concept with the support of international organizations and donors is expected to be carried out in three stages during 2016–2018.

At the first stage (2016), it is planned to create institutional and legislative foundations for reforming the system of public procurement in the field of health care, which will, among other things, include the adoption of a decision on the creation of a CZE with the appropriate organizational and legal form (state enterprise), defining its functions and powers and coordination of the main provisions of statutory documents.

At the second stage (2016–2017), it is planned to introduce modern methods of work of the CZO and the formation of an appropriate material and technical base, which will include, among other things, the approval of the structure and staff list of the CZO and the holding of an open competition for the position of the head of the newly formed organization and personnel.

In the third stage (2018), further development and capacity building of the CZE is foreseen, during which it is planned to adopt a plan for the transition of purchases from international organizations to the CCE.

It is planned to implement the Concept, including through the development and implementation of the Code of Ethics of the CZE in the preparation of tender documentation and procurement, which will include a policy on conflict of interests, implementation of responsibility for violating the requirements of the Code of Ethics.

According to the draft Concept, in the future, the powers of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and other customers for the procurement of medicinal products, immunobiological preparations and medical devices will be transferred to the Central Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Central Center will be established on the principle of self-financing by the decision of the Ministry and will be subordinate to it. It is proposed to determine the sources of financing of the Central Center for State funds, donor funding and other sources not prohibited by the legislation of Ukraine.

The organization will have a legal basis for generating revenue to cover all ongoing costs by charging commissions or other fees for services rendered. The financing model is by receiving service fees from the customers who will use the services of the CZO.

It is planned that the Central Center will carry out purchases at the local and international level, as well as, if necessary, purchase from foreign suppliers — to import medicines, immunobiological preparations and medical products, to involve other organizations in customs clearance, storage and distribution, to conduct other economic activities using the principles long-term planning. Also, the Central Center will provide consulting support to customers in the field of health care of Ukraine regarding the implementation of public procurement.

A separate resolution of the CMU proposes to regulate the specifics of the activities of the CZE.

Published according to the materials of the press service “Weekly APTEKA”