“Black Tuesday” for Ukraine’s patients

A black counterpane was spread on October 21 in front of the Cabinet building. The mourning cloth symbolized the critical condition of gravely-ill people. Similar protests were staged in regional centers all over Ukraine, and patients called this day “black Tuesday.” Three weeks ago Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk urged the ministries of public health and finance to put in all bids for medicines within 21 days. Patients’ organizations claim that only 16 percent of purchases have been made in this period and 19 percent of the planned bids have been submitted in the past year.

 People called upon the head of government to authorize the State Emergencies Service to purchase medicines. Corruption Counteraction Center lawyer Olena Shcherban explains: “The only way for Ukraine to quickly acquire medicines is direct negotiations. But only certain institutions can do so, and the Ministry of Public Health is not one of them. It is the State Emergencies Service that can conduct this kind of negotiations, but this requires a Cabinet resolution. Another option is to transfer budgetary funds onto the accounts of this service. It is worthwhile to encourage patients and NGOs’ representatives to monitor the transparency of this procedure.”

 The Ministry of Public Health is taking a dim view of the activists’ proposal. Deputy Minister for Public Health Aliona Tereshchenko says: “The transfer of the right to make purchases will last until the end of November. The last submission of bids by the ministry is scheduled for November 20.” The deputy minister adds that the premier has given 21 days only to establish the procedure of purchasing, and these instructions have been carried out. Asked when the medicines bought by the public health ministry can reach patients, Tereshchenko said uncertainly: “We must finish the procedure by the end of November, but this does not mean that the bidders will be equally dependable. We hope they will meet their commitments.”

 Some other institution purchased medicines for hemophilia patients in 2011. The bidding was foiled, and, after a patient had died, the government transferred the right to purchase to the Ministry for Emergencies. “Medications will arrive in Ukraine within three weeks if the Emergencies Service purchases them. But if the health ministry deals with bidding, we will get no preparations this year,” says Dmytro Sherembei, chair of the charitable foundation “Patients of Ukraine.” Patients and doctors expect the government to make a relevant decision this week.

Public activists are really wearing out the ministry officials. Some hooded guys came to the Cabinet picket place and tried – in vain – to stir up a provocation. Besides, legal proceedings have been instituted against “Patients of Ukraine” foundation chairman Dmytro Sherembei for illegal collection and use of the information which is a commercial secret. The claimant is a pharmaceutical company. Sherembei has confirmed reports about the criminal case: “They want to shut me up and are looking for a pretext. They are my Cabinet ‘fan club’ and all those who are vying for bids. They are tired of threatening me by phone and are now instigating legal proceedings.”