Public Position of the Network Regarding the Inadmissibility of Unethical Practices in the Pharmaceutical Market

We commence this year by presenting UNIC's official position on the operations of the pharmaceutical sector in Ukraine. We anticipate that this will begin an extensive advocacy campaign among business associations and private companies, instigated by the UNIC Expert Group on Pharmaceuticals. This expert group operates under the Network, bringing together representatives from leading companies in the pharmaceutical sector and law firms with healthcare practices. We encourage representatives of pharmaceutical companies to align themselves with this position, extend their support, and actively disseminate it.

As a collective action initiative grounded in promoting corporate ethics through training and public communications, UNIC deems the continuation of unethical practices in the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market unacceptable. Regrettably, despite the full-scale invasion, such practices persist within the pharmaceutical sector, including but not limited to:

• Accumulation of points for prescribing medicines and their exchange for household appliances, electrical appliances (including valuable gifts such as laptops), clothes, medical suits, and fuel coupons.
• The organisation of entertainment, excursions, and excessive treats during/after seminars, conferences, and other professional events.
• Sponsoring attendance at international conferences in exchange for prescribing drugs.
• Payment of funds is contingent on the number of prescribed packages of medicines (verified by providing a photo from the doctor's prescription log or otherwise) as proof. Payment format: cash directly to the doctor or through the hospital management.

It is crucial to note that these practices violate both the anti-corruption legislation of Ukraine and the requirements of local and international ethical standards. This includes the Code of Ethics of the Association of Manufacturers of Innovative Medicines and the Code of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations.

Moreover, such actions may also be viewed as a violation of legislation on the protection of economic competition, potentially leading to unfair advantages in competition, bribery of employees or officials of healthcare institutions (customers), or even abuse of a monopoly position.

Above all, the actions of unscrupulous pharmaceutical companies negatively impact the health and financial well-being of patients. This involves prescribing drugs not based on medical needs but for the personal benefit of doctors. At best, this results in financial costs without any positive impact on health, and at worst, it harms the health of patients.

We call on all companies in the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine to:

• Strengthen control over the activities of employees involved in interactions with medical and pharmaceutical workers. This includes conducting explanatory work and training for staff.
• In the event of discovering information about the probable use of unethical practices by employees, initiate an investigation into such violations and take the necessary corrective actions to prevent their recurrence.

We stand ready to support companies that adhere to standards of integrity. Only through collective efforts can we ensure transparency, responsibility, and ethics in the Ukrainian pharmaceutical sector.

You can read the full text of the statement at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/clmcnnk1wii2p2bz48v28/UNIC_-_2024.pdf?rlkey=ug788akmxha0r3al0eju8y5c1&dl=0