The EBA Health Care Committee initited the Seminar “European Experience from Health Care Sector - Challenges and Solutions for Ukraine” that was held on October 26, 2006 in Helsinki (Finland) during the visit of Ukrainian delegation of EU-Ukraine Summit. 

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland was the host party of the event, as the country which currently hold presidency in EU.  The EBA Health Care Committee with the support of the Finnish Embassy in Ukraine were the organisers of the Seminar. Ministry of Health of Ukraine also supported the holding of such an important event. 

The EBA Health Care Committee used this opportunity for attracting attention to urgent need for reforming the Ukraine’s health system and possible solutions of questions and problems of this sector as well as improving the investment climate in Ukraine in health care services sector, pharmaceutical market and medical devices and equipment in Ukraine.

Representatives of the Finnish Ministry of Public Health, the Finnish National Pension Fund (KELA), the Finnish State Health Insurance Fund and other state bodies, leaderships of the health care system of Ukraine and Secretariat of the President of Ukraine took part in the Seminar. 

As Ukrainian participants noticed, the meeting resulted in a very useful discussion on using of European and Finnish particular experience in the specific areas, such as: financing of the health care system, private insurance system and pension system funds.

The seminar participants stressed the importance of the information from Pharmaceutical Pricing Board on reasonable pricing and approval procedure of the reimbursement status through the different insurance systems. 

The separate meeting of Mr. Chumak, Director of State Pharmacologically Centre, with representatives of National Agency for Medicines of Finland was held during the Seminar. The market entry of the safety and efficacy medicines, planning of the pharmaceutical services, consumers and producers protection was the topics for the discussion during the meeting, as well as capabilities to use the Finnish experience on joining EU  and mechanism of data exclusivity protection.  It was agreed to continue the cooperation on the working group level between agencies. 

Mrs. Liisa Hiissala, Minster of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, who chaired the Seminar, stressed the importance of such a meeting and exchange of experience between the countries. She expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation that also would be supported by the Embassy of Finland in Ukraine as Mrs. Laura Reinila, Ambassador of Finland in Ukraine noted.  

Please click here to view presentations made during the Seminar.