President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said his retest for coronavirus (COVID-19) has so far been positive, and he continues to remain in self-isolation.
“My retest, unfortunately, is still positive, but I continue to work every day. This is my job. The only difference is that I work not on Bankova Street, but on Academician Zabolotny Street [where the Feofaniya clinical hospital is located],” he said in his blog on Wednesday.
Zelensky said he feels better. “The smells are back today. Strength is returning. The temperature is dropping. The desire to return to live work is rising,” he said.
Zelensky expressed the hope that the next video will be recorded from outside the hospital.
Ukraine has signed a two-year cooperation agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) online, Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov has said.
“This agreement defines a clear ‘roadmap’ for our further joint work, in particular, regarding the solution of such challenges of our time as the still excessively high incidence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and tuberculosis in Ukraine. After all, the fight against the pandemic does not stop our efforts to implement strategic and qualitative changes in the health care system,” the minister wrote on his Facebook page.
Due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the agreement was signed online simultaneously in Kyiv and Copenhagen.
Pharmacies receive UAH 226 mln from National Health Service under reimbursement program for July-September.
Kyiv needs about UAH 245 million to deploy temporary hospitals at the Sports Palace and exhibition centers, said Health Minister Maksym Stepanov.
“We received information from Kyiv authorities on where they are going to place temporary mobile hospitals, if necessary – it can be either an exhibition center or a Sports Palace. They calculated that they need UAH 245 million,” he said at a briefing on Friday.
Stepanov said that temporary mobile hospitals will create 500 additional beds. To ensure the treatment process in such hospitals, according to calculations, 1,200 medical personnel will be needed.
“We are organizing information now,” he said.
The pharmaceutical company JSC Farmak (Kyiv) has received a request from the Ministry of Health and scientists regarding the possibility of its involvement in clinical trials of a Ukrainian vaccine against COVID-19, the company has told Interfax-Ukraine.
“Farmak has recently received a request from the Ministry of Health and scientists about the possibility of involving the company in clinical trials of the Ukrainian vaccine against COVID-19. Also, the state received a request for the possibility of industrial production of the vaccine (if its safety and effectiveness are proved),” the company said.
Currently, Farmak is studying the request: the company’s experts are analyzing the available materials related to the development and are consulting with scientists and representatives of the Ministry of Health.
As reported, the state intends to fund clinical trials of the vaccine.
Farmak manufactures medicines in all fourteen therapeutic groups. Among the main directions are anti-cold, endocrinological, gastroenterological, cardiological, neurological portfolios. The company annually introduces to the market about 20 new complex-component modern drugs, and about 100 drugs are currently in development.
Over the past five years, Farmak’s investments in the scientific and technical complex, production equipment, and research activities amounted to UAH 3.4 billion.
In 2019, Farmak received a net profit of UAH 1.056 billion, which is almost the same as in 2018 at UAH 1.05 billion, while in 2018 Farmak increased its net profit by 25.16%.
JSC Farmak is a member of the Manufacturers of Medications of Ukraine Association.
According to the unified state register of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, the ultimate beneficial owner of Farmak is the head of the supervisory board, Filya Zhebrovska, who owns 80% of the company’s shares.
There is no shortage of ventilators for patients with COVID-19 in hospitals, new ventilators will be purchased for reference hospitals, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said.
“To date, 372 ventilators out of almost 4,000 that are available are involved in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. The devices that we are purchasing today will go to reference hospitals, emergency rooms, children,” he said on air during the “Svoboda Slova” (Freedom of Speech) program on Monday night.
Stepanov said that the Ministry of Health “does not have the task to write off funds from the treasury account as soon as possible.”
“Funds for ventilators were indeed allocated in May, appropriate procedures were launched, contracts have already been signed, we are waiting for the delivery of ventilators,” he said.
Stepanov reported that the task is “to buy modern equipment for 210 reference hospitals”. Funds for these purchases were transferred in July.
“This will be modern equipment that will work effectively, we are talking about CT, angiographs, other equipment. Now the procurement procedure is underway, the proposals and corresponding delivery dates have already been disclosed. According to the terms of agreement, funds are debited [from the treasury account], including after delivery. Therefore, there is nothing to talk about,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists that Ukraine will be among the first countries to be able to purchase a vaccine against COVID-19 as soon as it appears on the pharmaceutical market.
The head of state, according to the presidential office, on Saturday held a traditional meeting with representatives of the government, law enforcement agencies and relevant departments on the epidemiological situation in the country and measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Zelensky inquired about progressing of his task of keeping Ukraine on the waiting list for the coronavirus vaccine when it is made.
“Our diplomatic contacts and global resources report that the vaccine is already being produced in several countries. Even if it is ready next year, Ukraine should be among the first countries to purchase the vaccine. We must think about it now. The whole world is lining up,” the president stressed.
Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that, on the instructions of the president, he conducts consultations and keeps in touch with companies and diplomats from different countries, studying information.
