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The Public Calls for Redistribution of Money from the COVID-19 Fund for Coronavirus Medical Countermeasures

Relevant public organizations of Ukraine call on the President and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to redistribute funds from the COVID-19 Response Fund in the interest of medical institutions and promptly respond to their needs in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

In April 2020, a special COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Disease Response Fund to fight the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection and its consequences in the amount of UAH 66 billion was established in Ukraine. As of September 15, 2020, UAH 65.4 billion has been allocated from the Fund, which is 99% of its total volume. At the same time, only 24.7% of the allocated funds are directed to the healthcare sector. The COVID-19 Fund allocation mechanism developed and implemented by the Government is bureaucratic, non-transparent, and inefficient, as the allocation procedure is quite lengthy and involves coordination of each draft decision on the allocation of funds with all interested bodies, as well as with the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Budget.

In particular, concerns about the use of money from the special fund arise due to numerous reports of problems with the provision of hospitals, given that the COVID-19 Response Fund is used for road construction, and funds allocated for health care are used by only 17%.

Meanwhile, confirmed cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in Ukraine. The daily number of new COVID-19 cases has approached 6,000. There is more and more information from the regions about the queues for PCR tests; people wait for the results for 7-10 days, as the capacity of laboratories is insufficient. There is also information about the lack of beds in hospitals. Due to the infection of doctors, entire hospitals in district centers are being closed, and it is extremely difficult for patients, even in a serious condition, to be hospitalized. It is obvious that the medical system in Ukraine lacks capacity. Unfortunately, the authorities did not use six months after the start of the lockdown to deploy mass testing, track contacts, and organize additional hospital facilities for patients with COVID-19.

In this regard, the expert organization “StateWatch”, the Charitable Foundation “Patients of Ukraine”, and the Center for Economic Strategy addressed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with proposals to implement effective mechanisms for immediate response to the rapid spread of the virus to prevent new harsh quarantine, collapse of the medical system, and loss of life.

We call on the President and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine:

  • To reduce the allocation of road funding and spend it on health care.
  • Ensure immediate response to the needs of specific hospitals and provide them with the necessary means.
  • Ensure that the number and qualifications of hospital staff meet COVID-19 challenges.
  • Simplify the work of family physicians by referring seriously ill patients to hospitals.

Signatories of the statement

  1. StateWatch expert organization
  2. Charitable Foundation “Patients of Ukraine”
  3. Center for Economic Strategy