Acting Health Minister Says Entire Procurement Department is on Sick Leave or Vacation

Nobody currently takes responsibility for state procurement of drugs at the Ministry of Health because the position of the head of the department is vacant and four other employees are either on vacation or sick leave, acting Minister of Health Ulana Suprun said during a press briefing on Tuesday, August 2, Ukrinform reports.

"Currently, nobody at the Ministry is responsible for state procurement of drugs," Suprun said. She added that right now lawyers and other competent professionals are reviewing the documents on the incoming drugs that are waiting at the border, so that she could sign them. But the general state of procurement is ‘very poor’, she says.

Answering the question about steps necessary to improve the situation, Suprun said that first of all she will fill the department with professionals who are capable of working in this area and announce a contest for the head of the department. Meanwhile, the acting head of the department will be appointed. Suprun already has someone in mind, a person who used to be responsible for procurement of drugs when working under former Deputy Minister Ihor Perehinets.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda