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Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines for Ukrainians
Leading Innovation in Supply Chain
Through our award-winning Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines (SAFEMed) for Ukrainians Activity, we helped Ukraine engage a private pharmaceutical logistics company for last-mile distribution of HIV and TB medicines, ensuring it does so with effective stewardship and oversight. What began as a pilot project to close a gap in delivering medicines to a region heavily affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic, is today scaling up nationwide.
Overview
SAFEMed supports the ongoing efforts of the Government of Ukraine to transform its health care system to effectively meet the needs of its citizens. With support from USAID and PEPFAR, MSH provides technical assistance to strengthen and systematize public procurement of medicines and health commodities, contribute to the creation of sustainable health pharmaceutical financing, and strengthen pharmaceutical management and the supply chain. SAFEMed activities improve access to safe and affordable medicines for the Ukrainian population while supporting decentralization and integration of health services across national and sub-national levels and sectors.
SAFEMed is also playing an important role in supporting Ukraine’s medical supply chain during the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, ensuring that humanitarian medical supplies reach the people that need them most.
Our award-winning program has focused its efforts on: 1) strengthening the government’s capacity in implementing procurement reform by developing recommendations for smooth transition of national procurements from international organizations to the National Central Procurement Agency (CPA), and providing technical expertise to the Ministry of Health and CPA to ensure transparency in procurement of medicines and commodities; 2) supporting implementation and continuity of Ukraine’s Affordable Medicines program; 3) expanding Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methodologies for health priority setting and supporting the institutionalization of the HTA department at the State Expert Center; and 4) providing technical support to the government’s response to COVID-19.
Catalyzing the Growth and Success of the MPU: Lessons From SAFEMed
This technical brief documents the growth and success of the Medical Procurement of Ukraine (MPU) since its inception in 2018.
Maintaining Last-mile Distribution of Critical HIV and TB Treatments Despite the War: View from the Front Lines
Rebecca Kohler
Chief of Party
Project Contact
Rebecca Kohler is the Chief of Party of the MSH-led, USAID-funded project, Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines (SAFEMed) for Ukrainians. She brings over 30 years of expertise in global health working in key leadership, management, technical, and advisory positions in the US and around the world. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President with IntraHealth International, where she was responsible for strategy, business development, advocacy, and partnerships. A seasoned global health practitioner, Kohler brings hands-on experience working on health systems strengthening, health workforce, HIV and AIDS, reproductive health, and maternal and child health programs in more than 30 countries across several continents, including long-term, resident assignments in Tanzania, Kenya, Eritrea, and Armenia. She holds a master’s degree in public health from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and a bachelor’s degree from Duke University.
Donors & Partners
Donors
The United States Agency for International Development
PEPFAR