Ukraine is capable of reducing the EU’s dependence on India and China for medicines

The pharmaceutical industry of Ukraine has retained its capacity and potential despite the ongoing military actions, and thanks to this it can become one of the main drivers of recovery for the state’s economy. This was stated by a representative of the pharmaceutical company “Darnytsia” during a bilateral conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, which took place in Rome.

The conference was held with the participation of the President of Ukraine, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Ukraine and Italy, representatives of 150 Ukrainian companies and more than 500 Italian companies. “Darnytsia” took part in the conference as part of the Ukrainian delegation.

In his speech, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, emphasized that the pharmaceutical industry provides one of the TOP 5 opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine, and called on Italian companies to join those investing in Ukraine now, without waiting for the end of the war.

During her address at the “Medical Pharma” sectoral panel, Ksenia Velychko, head of the GR department of “Darnytsia”, reviewed the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine and outlined potential areas of cooperation. According to her, the heavyweights in the generic drugs production - China and India - demonstrated their unreliability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the potential of Ukraine, we have every opportunity to become the leader of the Eastern European region, reduce the EU’s dependence on India and China, shorten the medicines supply chain to Europe. We can also offer cooperation on the contract manufacturing terms, which is quite relevant in the context of shortage of certain medicines in Europe.

It must be noted that the European and international standards are already met by the Ukrainian medicine production technologies. Even before the end of the war, this can attract investment in the production of foreign brands’ drugs under contract manufacturing agreements to expand the range of drugs on the market, as well as make Ukraine a trustworthy element of supply chains of basic active substances to the EU and other countries.

“The pharmaceutical industry of Ukraine has proven its sturdiness and dependability, it is a component of national security and has been absolutely rightfully recognized by the President as a priority sector of the economy. There are quite a few advantages the Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry possesses - a significant experience in the production of affordable generics, which we can provide European consumers, is one of them. Another one is the capability to actively master the leading technologies, even in the face of a full-scale war. For example, in the near future “Darnytsia” expects to receive the technology for the production of mRNA vaccines from the WHO,” noted Ksenia Velychko.