The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial sector in medicine: features of centralized state procurement of drugs and medical devices in Ukraine for the period 2018-2021

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has deeply impacted the global health care system, and the redistribution of funding for medical care violated the prevention and treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, tuberculosis, and HIV. In 2020, centralized state procurement of medicines in Ukraine was for the first time conducted via the online platform Prozorro. Of the 483 items planned to be purchased, 375 items (78 %) were successfully contracted. In the current 2021, tenders were announced for the purchase of 555 of 562 items. In most fields of medicine, the drugs to be purchased are 100 % covered by tenders. The lowest percentage of coverage is observed for pulmonary arterial hypertension (66.67 %). In today’s complex environment, not only COVID-19 should be actively combated, but other diseases should be also kept in mind when carefully planning the funding of various fields of medicine through the analysis of data from previous years. The money saved can be used to eliminate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to purchase the necessary medicines. The creation of a single database of drug residues in medical institutions (chatbot in the Telegram messenger) can be called a positive innovation. Control of drug residues and their adequate redistribution makes it possible to rationally use this resource without spending money on unnecessary purchases. In general, despite the medical and financial impact of COVID-19, Ukraine’s healthcare system continues to withstand pressure and change for the better. Further improvement of the system of centralized procurement of medicines will be able to overcome the problem of lack of necessary drugs.