The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan unilaterally closes contracts with Ukrainian drug suppliers. The Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Azhar Giniyat said this while answering the questions of deputies during the plenary session of the Majilis, Kazpravda.kz correspondent reports.
Deputy Zarina Kamasova raised the issue of possible problems with the supply of medicines due to the geopolitical situation in the world.
“Today, the Ministry of Health has faced difficulties in supplying medicines from Ukraine, where more than 25 items are purchased. Another problem is the import dependence of our production on a number of components and logistics. As a result, there is an increase in the cost of products. As hospitals procure drugs and medical supplies, they will find themselves running out of syringes, catheters and other essentials. At that, the government says they have a long-term supply. How is this possible if we do not have SK-Pharmacia warehouses in a number of regions? How do you plan for uninterrupted drug supply for patients? - asked Zarina Kamasova.
As Azhar Giniyat noted, the Ministry of Health is aware of the current situation.
“For the entire need for medicines and medical devices for this year, we held a competition last year and purchased almost 94% of medicines. To date, 50% of the total volume of drugs has been delivered to the warehouses and hubs of SK- Pharmacia, and there are drugs for the treatment of patients by the end of June. As for Ukraine, 1.6% out of the total volume or 25 types of medicines were supplied from Ukraine,” the minister noted.
She said that at the beginning of the year, suppliers from Ukraine supplied drugs from 40% to 70% of this volume.
“Today, the plants are closed and we are unilaterally terminating contracts and holding tenders for the remaining volumes. We will finish them before July 1 and provide the population with medicines,” the Minister of Health assured.
