OREANDA-NEWS. May 14, 2012. Pursuant to social initiatives of the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has started implementing European approach to the pricing for drugs. The first step towards this was the development and adoption of the Resolution of the Government dated April 25, 2012 № 340 "On the implementation of the pilot project on introduction of state regulation of prices of medicines to treat people with hypertension," effect of which begins June 1, 2012.

"Just to increase life expectancy, its quality, to reduce mortality, especially among people of working age is aimed the recent Government decision to introduce state regulation of prices for drugs to treat people with hypertension," pointed the Vice Prime Minister recalling the implementation of appropriate pilot project start as from June 1 this year. Implementing to be held in two stages: the first stage involves the sale of drugs to treat hypertension at prices not exceeding the level of comparative (reference) prices and the second, which begins September 1 - introducing a mechanism of compensation for the cost of drugs to hypertension (reimbursement) by central and local budgets. "An affordable price for medicines will facilitate significantly improve the adherence of patients to a systematic, continuous treatment and increase its efficiency," Minister of Health emphasized.

She has informed for preparation of the pilot project there has been conducted a large organizational and technical work. Ministry of Health has signed a Memorandum with the leading domestic pharmaceutical companies have committed to provide all who need it by effective, high quality, safe and affordable drugs to treat hypertension, do not raise prices for these products and set up two months stock of these medicines in their  companies. It has been established Headquarters to prepare for launching a pilot project which, among other things, works out method of calculating limit level of prices for medicines on the basis of comparative (reference) prices for such products established in several European countries. As well as it is launched setting up inventory of patients with hypertension, organized by the relevant explanatory work among medical and pharmacy staff, it is preparing opening hotline within the pilot project.