Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines for Ukrainians (SAFEMed)

Overview

The Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines (SAFEMed) for Ukrainians Activity is designed to support the Government of Ukraine in its ongoing efforts to reform its health care system and expand access to affordable and reliable medicines. With support from the US Government, MSH provides technical and legal assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s pharmaceutical sector. Our work focuses on boosting transparency, implementing cost-management strategies, and supporting the decentralization and integration of health services across local and national levels. SAFEMed has worked with the government and local institutions on various measures, including the launch of a central procurement agency known as Medical Procurement of Ukraine (MPU). The development of this agency continues to help reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenses and further ensure that Ukrainians can access lifesaving medicines and health commodities for HIV, TB, COVID-19, and more.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, SAFEMed played an important role in keeping the country’s supply chain intact and ensuring that humanitarian medical supplies reach the people who need them most. Since the start of the war, MSH has helped establish Ukraine’s state-managed distribution of medical humanitarian aid, implemented supply chain innovations, and developed key partnerships with local institutions to close medical supply and health workforce gaps.

The award-winning program works with the local government and partners to:

Accomplishments include:

Helped improve transparency and promote evidence-based selection of medicines for public coverage by establishing Ukraine’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) department within the medicines market authorization agency known as the State Expert Center in 2019
Supported the expansion and digitalization of Ukraine’s Affordable Medicines Program, which provides access to essential prescription medicines for chronic conditions at little to no cost for patients, and aided in its transition to the National Health Services of Ukraine
Provided technical support to secure the MPU as a financially independent and sustainable agency, which has helped generate millions in savings on centralized procurements and distributed medical goods
Established a model for last-mile delivery of medicines, in partnership with the private sector, to ensure that HIV and TB medicines reach every region

Eight Years of Impact: The SAFEMed Legacy video. SAFEMed strengthened Ukraine’s pharmaceutical system—improving transparency, securing medicines nationwide, and expanding access to lifesaving care.

Establishing a New Vision for Pharmaceutical Regulation in Ukraine: Access to high-quality, reliable medicines is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers. In #Ukraine, government institutions are collaborating to reform and strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical regulatory system. MSH sat down with Deputy Minister of Health for European Integration Maryna Slobodnichenko to learn more about the government’s efforts to establish a state control authority for pharmaceutical regulation, even amidst the challenges of war.

From Procurement to Last-Mile Delivery—A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Ukraine’s Medical Warehouse: Step inside for a private tour of MPU’s warehouse with Branch Head Oleg Klots to find out what it takes to keep medical commodities flowing through the last mile.

Forklift Deliveries Improve Warehouse Operations and Raise Morale: To help regions better manage the influx of supplies coming in due to the war, the SAFEMed Activity helped procure forklifts for regional warehouses. This equipment will help streamline operations and ensure the swift delivery of medicines and humanitarian aid to Ukrainians.

Supporting the National Health Service of Ukraine’s Efforts to Keep Hospitals Open in Wartime: Since the start of the war, SAFEMed has continued to support the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) in its efforts to keep the health care system and Affordable Medicines Program functioning properly. Due to the work of the NHSU, hospitals such as this one in Chernihiv remained open and provided patients with the care they needed despite the city being under siege.

Leading Voices—MSH’s Rebecca Kohler on Getting Medicines to People in Ukraine: Since 2017, the Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines (SAFEMed) for Ukrainians Activity has partnered with the Ministry of Health to streamline the governance and management of the pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure reliable and affordable access to lifesaving medicines, particularly to fight HIV and TB. SAFEMed’s Chief of Party, Rebecca Kohler, discusses lessons learned as the program enters its sixth year.

Private Sector Logistics and Smart Cold Chain Management Boost Ukraine’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout: In partnership with the Ukrainian government and private logistics company, Farmasoft, the MSH-led SAFEMed Activity helped ensure adequate warehousing and regional distribution for more than 1.2 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021.

Resiliency in Times of War

The mission of the SAFEMed Activity took on a new sense of urgency when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Thanks to years of groundwork, the country was able to swiftly adapt and manage wartime challenges.

SAFEMed helped the government distribute 12,800 tons of humanitarian supplies worth around $500 million to health care facilities across Ukraine. We also helped facilitate and monitor the supply chain system to ensure that humanitarian assistance can continue to flow into Ukraine.

In the midst of war, SAFEMed supported the MOH and its central procurement agency in adapting and expanding its supply chain tools, including the MedData platform that now tracks in real time the nation’s blood supply as well as medicines and supplies.

Doctors working on modern virtual screen

In addition, we helped roll out two new digital platforms: eStock and MedSupply. Along with MedData, these systems help streamline supply chain functions, increase transparency, and improve coordination between the health ministry and facilities, suppliers, and partners nationwide.

With support from SAFEMed, Ukraine’s Affordable Medicines Program has benefited more than 5 million patients, providing coverage for over 540 medicines and medical devices while continuing to expand despite the uncertainties of the war.

We helped local partner Patients of Ukraine operate a call center that responded to over 4,000 calls regarding treatment options and health care rights, providing a lifeline for patients including those who have been displaced or affected by the war.

SAFEMed supports the MOH’s mission to ensure that Ukrainians in remote and war-affected areas have uninterrupted access to essential medicines. Through a robust communication campaign, we informed patients and health workers about how they can utilize mobile pharmacies in frontline regions.

What began as a pilot project to improve access to essential medicines has become a vital resource for a country engulfed in war. SAFEMed staff and partners continue to support Ukraine throughout this crisis and enhance the country’s pharmaceutical systems.