Today, as the World Hemophilia Day is globally marked to support people with this blood disease, MOH and UNDP reported 100 mln Hryvnia budget funds savings under the hemophilia programmes. This was ensured thanks to efficiency of international procurement of medicines. Saved budget money are used to procure additional medicines for children and adults with hemophilia.

Hemophilia medicines keep arriving to the country. Last week, another 3 medicines for a total amount of 10 mln Hryvnia were delivered in Ukraine. The received items are “Human coagulation factor IX (recombinant)” (500 IU and 1000 IU), “Human coagulation factor VIII and human von Willebrand factor” (500 IU and 1000 IU) and Anti-inhibitor coagulant complex” (500 IU). In total, this year hemophilia medicines worth 460 mln Hryvnia, or 80% of the ordered quantity, are already delivered to the country by UNDP. Medicines for children and adults with hemophilia are procured with Ukraine state budget funds within the framework of procurement by specialized organizations.

All 33 items under the programmes of adult and child hemophilia were procured in the ordered quantities. Moreover, due to transparent and efficient procedures, UNDP as the procuring organization managed to ensure lower prices and save 100 mln Hryvnia of budget funds. Part of this money is already allocated to buy additional medicines for people with hemophilia.

Ms. Olga Stefanyshyna, Deputy Minister of Health on European integration stated: “Competition during tenders conducted by international organizations allows to buy medicines at lowest prices. As a result, treatment will be provided to as many patients as possible. Every year we observe that more and more manufacturers directly apply to international organization tenders and offer more favorable conditions. Hemophilia is not the only disease where we already managed to buy additional medicines. Thanks to generated savings we will be able to treat more patients with blood cancer, Gaucher disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension etc.”

UNDP reports that procurement for the total of 26 programs has been completed for 63%. Medicines are being supplied to the country according to the agreed schedule. Preliminary amount of savings generated for all programs amounts to over 260 mln UAH. At the moment medicines and medical products were delivered for the amount of 1,5 bln UAH out of 2,4 bln UAH that are committed in the contracts. UNDP has signed a number of long-term agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers to ensure the fastest delivery of medicines for Ukrainians.

Mr. Janthomas Hiemstra, UNDP Country Director in Ukraine, commented: "Impressive results under hemophilia and other programmes are the result of our efficient work and the recent introduction of Long-Term Agreements. We now ensure even faster delivery at even lower prices which is utterly important to ensure continuous and uninterrupted access to high-quality medicines for people of Ukraine.”

Background information

Hemophilia is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. There are two main types of hemophilia: hemophilia A, which occurs due to not enough clotting factor VIII, and hemophilia B, which occurs due to not enough clotting factor IX. They are typically inherited from one's parents through an X chromosome with a nonfunctional gene.

In Ukraine (with Crimea and Sevastopol statistics absent) around 1900 adult and 600 child hemophilia patients are registered at the hospitals. 80-90% of children under 14 years old with severe hemophilia become disabled. The same applies to 100% of 18 y.o. patients with severe hemophilia. In Western Europe and North America countries, where preventive treatment of children with hemophilia is implemented, only 1-2% become disabled.

Media inquiries:
Mr. Anastas Boiko, UNDP Ukraine Health Project +38 044 254 0035 anastas.boiko@undp.org