On 26 July 2011, ‘Ukrainians Against TB’ Public Movement Foundation, ‘Health Without Borders’ International Journalist Association together with ‘Stop TB Together’ Coalition of Organisations held a press conference called ‘The patient’s view – inevitable outbreak of tuberculosis due to lack of financing for TB drugs’.
The aim of the press conference was to bring to the notice of the general public and the Government of Ukraine severe consequences that may arise as a result of a shortage of TB drugs in Ukraine and to advocate timely financing of TB drug purchases.
Discussed at the press conference were the following topics:
– In the first five months of 2011, the state didn’t purchase any TB drug;
– The international commitments which the state of Ukraine took on (Millennium Development Goals, resolution of the 2009 Beijing meeting of the health ministers of countries with a high MDR-TB burden) cannot be fulfilled if the traditional Ukrainian approach to financing TB drug purchases persists.
Participating in the press conference were:
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Deputy Health Minister Oleksandr Tolstanov; |
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Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Controlling HIV/AIDS and Other Socially Dangerous Diseases Oleksandr Fedko; |
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Chairman of the board of ‘Ukrainians Against TB’ Public Movement Foundation Vitaly Rudenko; |
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Chairman of the board of ‘Health Without Borders’ International Journalist Association Igor Gorbasenko. |
At the press conference, information was provided that currently the situation in Ukraine with basic TB drugs necessary for giving treatment to Ukrainians ill with TB is difficult.
Today, more than 457,000 Ukrainian citizens are registered with TB establishments as people with TB. Of them, ill with active tuberculosis – those who are spreaders of this socially dangerous disease – are over 78,000 Ukrainians.
In 2010 alone, 31,295 Ukrainians were taken to TB establishments who were first diagnosed with tuberculosis.
All these people need uninterrupted treatment, i.e. daily administration of TB drugs. The real need for TB drug purchase now amounts to 170,871,025.24 UAH (without taking account of vaccines).
But in 2011, in the first six months the Ministry of Health didn’t purchase any package of TB drugs. The WHO recommendation about constant and renewable stock of TB drugs and other materials isn’t complied with, which has led to a systematic shortage of even 1st line TB drugs.
‘Ukrainians Against TB’ Public Movement Foundation and partner organisations that form part of ‘Stop TB Together’ Coalition of Organisations have sent a letter to all government structures, including the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, with information about severe humanitarian and financial consequences of interruptions in the provision of TB drugs, stressing the need for urgent decisions about their purchase.
As a result of the advocacy work carried out, an agreement has been reached with senior officials of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine about holding tenders for the purchase of TB drugs in short order and ensuring their supply to the regions in September-October of this year.
‘Ukrainians Against TB’ Public Movement Foundation