Ukraine has signed a Memorandum providing access to the ARV-treatment on the lowest possible prices
After learning about Clinton Foundation unique approach, Elena Franchuk has initiated the negotiations between Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative and Ukraine in order to facilitate the access to ARV-treatment and laboratory equipment on the lowest possible prices.
One of the important Clinton Foundation activities, which was founded by the 42-ndPresident of USA, is helping the most vulnerable and suffered from HIV/AIDS epidemic countries to reduce the prices for antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and diagnostic tests for people living with HIV/AIDS. As a result of joining to the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative, Ukraine is eligible for receiving discount till 60% for the ARV-treatment, which is needed by thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS, and discount till 80% for laboratory equipment.
The most available prices for the CHAI’s countries-members are negotiated with the lead ARV-producers; coordination and ARV’s-purchases planning across the world are discussed. For the ARV’s producers it makes this market more predictable and also creates the new sales channels. For product consumers it gives an opportunity for achieving special prices, not available under other conditions. As a result of these efforts, the prices for the most widespread ARV’s reduce till 40-60% from their prices on the global market. The prices for diagnostic tests include machines, training, reagents and maintenance are up to 80% cheaper than otherwise available on the market.
During the meeting with regional manager Mrs. Jennifer Ann Lissfelt, Andrei Pidaev announced that the 2005 year’s budget on purchases of ARV-drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS was doubled. “I hope – said Andrei Pidaev after Memorandum was signed, - with a benefits offered for member countries of CHAI, the Government of Ukraine could purchase additional amount of ARV-drugs. And it’s certainly a great progress. Nowadays Ukraine is ready for response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic: the government has a strong will to fight AIDS, sufficient legislation system was created, experience was accumulated, Ukraine has a great potential of the AIDS centers’ network. Today, we’ve added new component and it would help to provide more people living with HIV/AIDS with ARV-therapy. I am sure that having access to these resources we can step forward in overcoming the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”
Elena Pinchuk the founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation said: “For this time, the high ARV’s prices are the main obstacle in scaling up national prevention and treatment program for people living with HIV/AIDS. The opportunity to treat more patients for the same money is hope for many people, which yesterday haven’t yet had access to the ARV-treatment. Ukraine is the most affected by HIV/AIDS country in Eastern Europe. According to Ministry of Health data, at least 4000 people currently need treatment. Better to say that we should do all our possible to save lives of those, whom we could its save - providing access to high-quality care and treatment”.
Speaking on behalf of the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative the regional manager Jennifer Lissfelt said: "We are very pleased to enter into partnership with Ukraine; it will save the lives of many Ukrainians. And we are impressed by the commitment and efforts already under way here. But for us there are two principal issues to be considered: the first - Ukraine should be interested in achieving the lowest prices for ARV’s, I was told about it by many experts here; the second – political support inside of the country, which we were received during each meeting in Ukraine”.
The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative is at work helping countries, joint CHAI, in developing operational plans for integrating care and treatment into public health systems. Implementation support in program management, monitoring and evaluation, training, procurement planning is also provided. The main partners in ARV-drugs purchasing are Cipla, Ranbaxy, Hetero, Aspen; in the diagnostic systems purchasing - Beckton Dickinson, Beckman Coulter, Roche, Bayer, BioMerieux. The partnership with any ARV’s purchaser is only possible after having been pre-qualified by the World Health Organization. The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative is working in close partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the World Bank; WHO; UNICEF; and the International Dispensary Association.
For detailed information, please, contact Pavel Piminov, Communications Director, Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation on e-mail: [email protected]. Contact phone number: +38 (044) 490 4805.
