PHARMA 2026 strategic priorities: establishment of the UPA, National Price Catalogue, and patient access to treatment

03/ 04/ 2026

On 27 March, the conference “PHARMA: Strategic Priorities 2026” brought together key stakeholders of the pharmaceutical sector to discuss pressing industry issues. Among the priorities of the Health Care Committee of the European Business Association are the establishment of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency (UPA), the functioning of the National Price Catalogue (NPC), and expanding patient access to treatment. Representatives of the Committee and its member companies actively contributed to the discussion on these topics. During the first panel discussion, “Pharma in Dialogue: From Idea to Regulatory Decision”, participants focused on the implementation of European regulatory approaches and transparent principles for establishing the UPA. Within this discussion, Committee Manager Anna Bezruk expressed appreciation for the open dialogue, constructive cooperation, and the Ministry of Health’s consideration of the Association’s key proposals to the draft Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers “On the Establishment of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency”, developed in implementation of the Law “On Medicinal Products”. In particular, the Ministry supported the approach of an institutional reset, involving the liquidation of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control and the creation of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency “from scratch”. This includes a transparent selection process for leadership with the participation of international members of the commission, serving as a foundation for an independent and investment-attractive regulator. Anna also emphasised that for the Association’s member companies, it is not only the formal establishment of a new authority that matters, but also the quality of its institutional model and practical implementation. It is critical for the market that the creation of the new body be accompanied by clear rules, transparent procedures, and a sufficient level of trust from the professional community. The second panel discussion focused on certain aspects of access to medicines, in particular public procurement and the National Price Catalogue. Participants concentrated on the actual effectiveness of the NPC one year after the introduction of the regulation, including its impact on medicine prices, availability, the level of competition, and continuity of supply. Among the key issues for business raised during the discussion were: whether the National Price Catalogue can become a genuine tool for improving access to medicines rather than an additional administrative barrier; whether the state is ready to introduce the principle of “tacit consent” and targeted simplifications, for example for the OTC segment, to overcome procedural delays. At the same time, despite the declared objectives, the business community notes that improving accessibility and transparency, as well as the practical implementation of the NPC, is accompanied by a number of challenges. Ongoing uncertainty in certain areas negatively affects the predictability of business decisions, supply chain planning, and, consequently, patients’ actual access to medicines. Within the discussion on public procurement, participants emphasised the need to move towards a more balanced model that considers not only price, but also the quality and reliability of medicine supply. In particular, they highlighted the feasibility of broader use of non-price criteria and the importance of introducing a transparent and unified methodology for their application. Attention was also paid to the practical implementation of such an approach and ensuring consistency in its application. Participants also discussed approaches to encouraging the localisation of production of critically important medicines. The European Business Association expresses its gratitude to the organisers, speakers, and participants for a professional and substantive discussion.

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On 27 March, the conference “PHARMA: Strategic Priorities 2026” brought together key stakeholders of the pharmaceutical sector to discuss pressing industry issues. Among the priorities of the Health Care Committee of the European Business Association are the establishment of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency (UPA), the functioning of the National Price Catalogue (NPC), and expanding patient access to treatment. Representatives of the Committee and its member companies actively contributed to the discussion on these topics.

During the first panel discussion, “Pharma in Dialogue: From Idea to Regulatory Decision”, participants focused on the implementation of European regulatory approaches and transparent principles for establishing the UPA. Within this discussion, Committee Manager Anna Bezruk expressed appreciation for the open dialogue, constructive cooperation, and the Ministry of Health’s consideration of the Association’s key proposals to the draft Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers “On the Establishment of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency”, developed in implementation of the Law “On Medicinal Products”.

In particular, the Ministry supported the approach of an institutional reset, involving the liquidation of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control and the creation of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency “from scratch”. This includes a transparent selection process for leadership with the participation of international members of the commission, serving as a foundation for an independent and investment-attractive regulator.

Anna also emphasised that for the Association’s member companies, it is not only the formal establishment of a new authority that matters, but also the quality of its institutional model and practical implementation. It is critical for the market that the creation of the new body be accompanied by clear rules, transparent procedures, and a sufficient level of trust from the professional community.

The second panel discussion focused on certain aspects of access to medicines, in particular public procurement and the National Price Catalogue. Participants concentrated on the actual effectiveness of the NPC one year after the introduction of the regulation, including its impact on medicine prices, availability, the level of competition, and continuity of supply.

Among the key issues for business raised during the discussion were:

whether the National Price Catalogue can become a genuine tool for improving access to medicines rather than an additional administrative barrier;
whether the state is ready to introduce the principle of “tacit consent” and targeted simplifications, for example for the OTC segment, to overcome procedural delays.

At the same time, despite the declared objectives, the business community notes that improving accessibility and transparency, as well as the practical implementation of the NPC, is accompanied by a number of challenges. Ongoing uncertainty in certain areas negatively affects the predictability of business decisions, supply chain planning, and, consequently, patients’ actual access to medicines.

Within the discussion on public procurement, participants emphasised the need to move towards a more balanced model that considers not only price, but also the quality and reliability of medicine supply. In particular, they highlighted the feasibility of broader use of non-price criteria and the importance of introducing a transparent and unified methodology for their application. Attention was also paid to the practical implementation of such an approach and ensuring consistency in its application. Participants also discussed approaches to encouraging the localisation of production of critically important medicines.

The European Business Association expresses its gratitude to the organisers, speakers, and participants for a professional and substantive discussion.