Ukraine's Ministry of Health stated that they had classified the conditions of purchase of the Covid vaccine at the request of the manufacturer. Disclosure of the conditions could lead to termination of the contract, Deputy Health Minister Svitlana Shatalova said at a briefing on Thursday, March 4.
Classified section contains information on the price of the vaccine, its manufacturers and suppliers.
Shatalova explained that the order of the Ministry of Health from February 19, 2021, which stipulated distribution of the vaccines in the regions, requires that heads of structural health units in the regions "ensure non-disclosure of any information about manufacturers or suppliers, as well as prices for vaccines against acute respiratory disease Covid-19."
According to the Deputy Minister, this requirement was due to the provisions of an agreement concluded between the Ministry of Health and the specialized international organization Crown Agents, which is authorized to purchase vaccines.
The authorities decided to purchase vaccines against coronavirus not through the specialized state enterprise Medical Procurement of Ukraine, but through an international intermediary.
The choice fell on the British purchasing agency Crown Agents, which, based on information from the media, charges up to 5% of the contract amount for its services. Health Minister Maxym Stepanov noted at a briefing on January 15 that the decision on cooperation had already been taken by the Cabinet of Ministers at an extraordinary meeting.
