By KYIV. Nov 30 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported a bill limiting gifts to physicians and financial incentives from pharmaceutical companies for promoting and prescribing drugs.
As the Ministry of Health reported on its website, the bill provides for a list of clear actions that affect the objectivity and efficiency of the work of physicians and pharmacists, “to prevent the prescription of medicines under the influence of direct or indirect financial incentives.”
In particular, physicians, pharmacists and rehabilitation specialists will not have the right, directly or through others, to demand, request or receive either funds or other benefits for prescribing drugs from a particular manufacturer. The ban will apply to medical products and rehabilitation aids.
In addition, the bill prohibits the use of forms from pharmaceutical companies containing advertising information to prescribe medications.
Also, when dispensing medicines, at the request of the buyer, pharmacists will be required to provide reliable information about available analogues. The pharmacist shall not hide information about medicines with a similar active ingredient at a lower price, guided by his own benefit.
The bill was developed in pursuance of the State Anti-Corruption Program for 2023-2025.
