The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine conducted searches at the central office of the State Service for Medicines and Drug Control, as well as at the office of its head, Roman Isayenko. There are no official statements on the grounds for conducting investigative actions, however, according to sources, detectives are checking possible facts of abuse of official position, lobbying of the interests of pharmaceutical companies, and illegal enrichment of officials.
Previously, investigators reported a number of violations in the field of public procurement with the participation of the State Medical Service. In particular, these are tenders for the purchase of drugs for substitution maintenance therapy - Methadone and Buprenorphine. Despite their different effects and purposes, they were combined into one lot in the procurement, which effectively cut off most potential participants and left the opportunity to compete only to two companies: Odessa TDV "Interkhim" and Kharkiv corporation "Zdorovya".
The winner of the auction was the "Corporation "Health"" with a bid of almost 500 million UAH. According to experts, such a procurement model could significantly narrow competition and create artificial advantages for a certain circle of participants.
Questions increase suspicions: why have large-scale searches at the State Medical Service begun only now, although problems with the transparency of tenders and possible manipulation of public funds have been going on for years? Were these facts unnoticed, or were they deliberately ignored?
The focus is on the role of the head of the service, Roman Isayenko. According to available information, he could have been involved in approving non-transparent decisions and influencing individual purchases. After information about the searches appeared, the head of the State Medical Service unexpectedly went on sick leave, which raised additional questions about his involvement in possible violations.
NABU's investigative actions are ongoing.
