Draft bill #10293 of November 27, 2023 

Sponsor: the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine 

Status: sent for review to the Committee on National Health, Medical Care, and Health Insurance 

Who is affected: all residents of Ukraine, medical, pharmaceutical, and rehabilitation specialists 

Summary: 

  • a list of prohibited interactions between medical workers and medical establishments with business entities or their representatives who manufacture and/or sell medicines, medical products, and/or auxiliary rehabilitation devices will be introduced. It will not be allowed to directly or indirectly demand, request, and/or receive: 
    • illegal profit for prescribing or dispensing specific medicinal products, medical products, and auxiliary means of rehabilitation 
    • souvenir and branded products to promote samples of medical products or devices 
    • gifts, bonuses, prizes, cashback, the right to participate in a game, lottery, competition, or event, where the condition for reward or participation will be the prescription or dispense of certain medical products or devices 
  • prohibits the prescription of medicinal products, medical devices, or auxiliary means of rehabilitation on forms that can contribute to further control of how frequently they will be prescribed by a doctor or a rehabilitation specialist 
  • ethical standards will be set for medical workers to adhere to when prescribing medicines or medical devices to patients. 

What is right: 

  • medical and pharmaceutical personnel will work more impartially and effectively 
  • patients will have better access to effective medical products. 

What is wrong: the bill does not define what constitutes a violation of ethical standards by a medical, pharmaceutical, or rehabilitation specialist or prohibited interaction with a pharmaceutical or distribution company. 

Alternative solution: the bill should be amended by adding specifics on what constitutes a violation of ethical standards or the interaction procedure.