Ukraine could already have two contracts for a vaccine against the coronavirus infection COVID-19, which would cost it at least one dollar less per dose.
This was stated by the General Director of the state enterprise "Medical procurement of Ukraine" Arsen Zhumadilov.
According to him, as of December 18, 2020, a dialogue was conducted with several manufacturers to conclude supply contracts as soon as possible. Later, health Minister Maxim Stepanov "suddenly informs" the Prime Minister that the country is in danger due to the breakdown of negotiations with vaccine manufacturers, since the state-owned enterprise requires a Bank guarantee for prepayment.
The Prime Minister, taking the information as a Wake-up call, contacted me by phone, informed me that we were putting the country in danger by our actions, and instructed me to work with the market exclusively through the Ministry of health. Stepanov on the same day confirmed that all actions for the purchase of a vaccine should be coordinated with the Ministry of health., — wrote Zhumadilov on Facebook.
According to him, the Minister issued the requirement for suppliers "as a threat" either from a misunderstanding of the specifics of functioning of financial instruments or with intent to remove the state from direct negotiations.
Zhumadilov also noted that " so far, there are no rational grounds for ordering a Russian product in the segment of which there are cheaper, more effective, reliable vaccines."
Earlier, the chief sanitary doctor of Ukraine and Deputy Minister of health Viktor Lyashko said that he would allow the use in the country only of those coronavirus vaccines that have successfully passed the third phase of clinical trials, and Sputnik V will allegedly complete them only at the end of 2021. Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on health Mikhail Sandusky added that the law does not allow registration of a vaccine that is not qualified by the who and countries with strict regulatory policies, in particular the United States.
The Deputy Minister noted that according to the information available to him, the third stage of Sputnik V tests will be completed in December 2021. NEWS.ru.
