On Tuesday, 16 June, at the Ukraine Ministry of Health took place an extraordinary session of the National Council on TB and HIV/AIDS, on which happened to visit to me.
The event has been discussed a lot of important questions, but I would like to focus on two key issues in terms of strengthening access of vulnerable communities and people living with HIV to medical and social services in Ukraine.
1. Timely provision of antiretroviral drugs and medical devices.
As it’s known, at this time not purchased by three ARV drugs: lamivudine, zidovudine and, efavirenz, which are to expire in the period from mid-June to mid-August. Once again were promises the Minister of Health Kvitashvili about the purchase of these drugs (15% of the total need) during the week, and then – the remaining 75%, but no one was is sure that it’s really true. In the meantime actually of ARV drugs for 2015 was purchased 66,000 courses instead of the planned 85,000. Despite the lack of money in the state budget, additionally was filed an application for PEPFAR (the US President’s Fund) on the acquisition of additional 18 thousands of ART courses amounting $6.3 million as a charity. Also was raised the question of problems in providing of ARV and OST preparations at uncontrolled areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
2. Implementation in Ukraine updated of qualification
requirements of the Global Fund to coordination mechanisms for 2015 and the current implementation the Plan of improvement the National Council.
During the third quarter of 2015 at the National Council will be created an expert group to ensure in its structure representative of all main groups that affected by HIV and TB (IDUs, sex workers, MSM, prisoners/former prisoners, perhaps transgender people, etc.) according to the new requirements of the Global Fund to Coordinating mechanisms. There will also be ensured all the members of the Council rotation after three years of their stay in this position (reelections, during which an existing member of the Council may also take part in the elections and will continue to stay in case of victory). The same will apply and during the election members of the oversight over the implementation of Global Fund grants in Ukraine.
For my part, I will try to tell you about all selection procedures as soon as they will begin to ensure of maximum involvement vulnerable populations and transparency of process.
Fully with the meeting agenda you can familiarize by going to:https://drive.google.com/a/ga.net.ua/folderview…
Links: http://www.moz.gov.ua/ua/portal/pre_20150617_b.html; http://network.org.ua/…/rishennya-terminovogo-zasidannya-n…/
A. Chernyshev
