Mykolaiv Regional Council did not give hospitals the green light to trade in medicines

The Mykolaiv Regional Council approved amendments to the charters of three medical institutions so that they could create MCCs instead of MSECs. Instead, the initiative to open pharmacies in hospitals was decided not to be supported due to the risk of losses and lack of financial calculations.

This was discussed at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Joint Ownership of Territorial Communities of Villages, Towns, and Cities of Mykolaiv Oblast, Housing and Communal Services, Capital Construction, and Architecture.

At a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Mykolaiv Regional Council, the deputies supported amendments to the charters of certain municipal non-profit enterprises (MNEs), which will allow these medical institutions to expand their scope of activities. The amendments were adopted due to the requirements of the state policy on the availability of medicines for patients and the transfer of powers from MSEC to LCCs (medical advisory commissions).

According to Iryna Tkachenko, Head of the Health Department of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, the charters of the IPCs need to include KVEDs that allow for the establishment of pharmacies as part of hospitals. Such changes are envisaged by the NSDC decision of February 12, 2025 and are supported by the Ministry of Health as part of the strategy to improve public access to medicines.

However, some MPs expressed concern. In particular, they argued that it is financially inexpedient to open pharmacies at hospitals, especially if they do not have the appropriate experience or turnover.

One of the commission members noted that the pharmacy business requires significant start-up investments - at least UAH 500-700 thousand for each outlet, as well as well-established logistics and procurement processes. In his opinion, in the first year, the project may bring losses of up to UAH 7.5 million, and it is not yet clear from what sources the hospitals will cover them.

In response, Iryna Tkachenko emphasized that it is not yet a question of immediate opening of pharmacies. Changes to the charters are needed to legally regulate the activities, and then, by agreement with the Ministry of Health, it is possible to delegate such functions to the existing Pharmacy enterprise, which specializes in the retail sale of medicines and already operates in many health care facilities in the region.

In the end, the commission partially approved the draft decision: the deputies supported amendments to the charters of three medical institutions (the regional hospital for war veterans, the cancer center, and the psychological health center) in terms of the organization of the MCC. Instead, they proposed not to make changes to the KVEDs related to the retail sale of medical products for the other six CIPs - at least until there is a clear economic model.

The commission's conclusions will be submitted to the 30th extraordinary session of the regional council.

Last year, the Ministry of Health announced the creation of Expert Teams for Assessment of Daily Human Functioning to replace the Medical and Social Expert Commissions (MSEC), which previously established disability and were linked to a corruption scandal.

According to a report by the Ministry of Health, a total of 102 such teams are planned to be formed in three southern regions - Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson: 46 in Odesa, 37 in Mykolaiv, and 19 in Kherson.

Анна Бальчінос