Healthcare reform in Ukraine is set to take a significant step forward following the signing on March 3^rd, of a Letter of Intent by the country's health ministry, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and the Association of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (APRaD).

The purpose of the Letter of Intent is for the pharmaceutical industry to assist the Ukrainian government in advancing healthcare reform in Ukraine, by supporting the harmonisation of pharmaceutical legislation with EU legislation. The aim is to improve access to innovative medicines for patients and create more stable and transparent business conditions, while increasing the efficiency of the healthcare system, bringing it in line with the rest of Europe.

The signatories, including Ukrainian Health Minister Oleksandr Kvitashvili, EFPIA Director General, Richard Bergström and APRaD Executive Director, Volodymyr Redko, have agreed that the Letter of Intent will eventually be transformed by June 2015, into a more comprehensive Framework Agreement on Cooperation for the period 2015 to 2017.

Specifically, the agreement focuses on the shared objectives of:

1. Supporting harmonisation of Ukrainian pharmaceutical legislation with EU legislation. This includes full acceptance of GMP rules and the implementation of a simplified registration processes for medicines already registered in EU countries through the centralised procedure;
2. Rapid and complete implementation of the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to disclose transfers of value to healthcare professionals;
3. Improving the access and uptake of innovative medicines in Ukraine and bringing Ukrainian health outcomes in line with the rest of Europe.

The Agreement will furthermore promote thorough, systematic and qualitative reforms in the Ukrainian healthcare system, based on successful experiences from a variety of European countries, among them Lithuania, Hungary, Portugal and Ireland.

A detailed plan on how industry can support and facilitate the objectives set out in the letter has been built into the agreement, together with a high-level roadmap for Ukrainian healthcare reform that highlights areas in which industry's international knowledge and participation in local activities will be key factors.

EFPIA Director General Richard Bergström commented: "This is an important step. The patients of Ukraine will benefit from a more collaborative spirit between the pharmaceutical industry and the government of Ukraine".

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