Collaboration
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Medicines for Europe immediately engaged with partners (Ukrainian Government and embassies, European Institutions, European Medicines Agency, civil protection agencies, national Strategic Reserve Agencies, World Health Organizaton and NGOs such as Médicins sans Frontières, Red Cross, International healthcare partners, Direct Relief, European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology, UAid Direct), to donate and supply medicines to Ukraine. We are also in contact with the crisis preparedness department of the Commission (HERA) to support with the supply of iodine and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) to donate medicines to Ukraine. We have followed closely the requests of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health for essential medicines and circulated the regularly amongst our members who supply these medicines. These are essential medicines, mainly used in hospitals, in emergency care, required for surgeries, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicines, as well as medicines used in cardiological, neurological, respiratory and infectious diseases and in the treatment of diabetes and cancer.
Financial and supplies donations
Our members have donated medicines, medical supplies, and financial donations directly to the defence effort in Ukraine. In Poland alone, our member Medicines for Poland has donated over one million packs of medicines worth approximately PLN 15 million. Our members have made cash donations to organisations providing assistance in the crisis situation and continue to do so as the situation continues.
Support for Ukrainian refugees
In border countries (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia), our members have allowed staff contribute during working hours to supporting and welcoming refugees coming from Ukraine. In the early days of the invasion, they supported the relocation of colleagues and their families from Ukraine to Poland/Slovakia/Hungary and guaranteeing the necessary support when they arrive. Inside their organisations, employees coordinate both collections of needed items and volunteering support. Our companies’ staff have organised volunteering initiatives in manufacturing sites to meet the increased demand for medicines during this time.
Support for employment opportunities
Our members have supported Ukrainian colleagues from the sector to find work in their country of relocation. Our members have medicines manufacturing sites and specialist functions in almost all EU countries, and integration of experts from Ukraine
Medicines for Europe
Medicines for Europe represents the generic, biosimilar and value-added medicines industries across Europe. Its vision is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines, based on 5 important pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership. Its members directly employ 190,000 people at over 400 manufacturing and 126 R&D sites in Europe and invest up to 17% of their turnover in R&D investment. Medicines for Europe member companies across Europe are both increasing access to medicines and driving improved health outcomes. They play a key role in creating sustainable European healthcare systems by continuing to provide high quality, effective generic medicines, whilst also innovating to create new biosimilar medicines and bringing to market value added medicines, which deliver better health outcomes, greater efficiency and/or improved safety in the hospital setting for patients. For more information please follow us at www.medicinesforeurope.com and on Twitter @medicinesforEU.