Parliament approves bill to permit non-registered pharmaceuticals

Ukraine’s parliament approved at its Mar. 30 special
session a bill (#3268) that permits the legal use of non-registered
pharmaceuticals to treat patients infected with the coronavirus. The bill also
allows the use of registered pharmaceuticals that were not originally
designated for treating coronavirus, but had their effectiveness proven or were
recommended by foreign state authorities. At the same time, parliament didn’t
review three other bills related to the coronavirus pandemic: #3275 that
expanded social and economic guarantees, #3271 to punish the illegal export of
anti-viral medical supplies, and #3276 to address criminal proceedings during
the quarantine period.

The government will consider its options in relaxing
the severe quarantine currently in place to contain the spread of the
coronavirus, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told a television talk show on Mar.
30. Supporting those citizens without work is among the government’s top
priority, he said. “We understand very well that many people – the majority of
Ukraine’s population – don’t have a financial pillow and don’t have the ability
to simply sit at home for three months. People need earn money. The economy
needs to be launched,” he said. The government will consider its next economic
measures after the Orthodox Easter holiday on Apr. 19, taking into account the
dynamics of the coronavirus, he said.

As of noon, Mar. 31, 13 people have died in Ukraine
from the COVID-19 disease. An estimated 548 have been infected, according to
the Center for Public Health at the Health Ministry.

Zenon Zawada: It’s
possible that bill#3275 was not reviewed so as not to inflate the budget
deficit and upset IMF officials, who are currently considering an enormous loan
package for Ukraine.

The government will have enormous problems by May
if it does not find a way to cope with the millions of Ukrainians who are out
of work, particularly the half a million of citizens who returned from abroad
and can’t return, for as long as the quarantine is in place.