WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed strong concern about the 
reports of attacks on healthcare facilities and healthcare workers in Ukraine: “We have received several unconfirmed reports of attacks on hospitals and healthcare infrastructure, as well as a confirmed report of an incident last week, in which a hospital was bombed: people were killed four people out of ten were injured, including six health workers.”
Another source of concern is represented by the low percentage of vaccinated people in Ukraine: "mass movements of the population are likely to further contribute to the transmission of COVID-19, potentially increasing the pressure on health systems in neighboring countries", explains the general of the WHO. The risk is equally high for those who remain in the country: “the low percentage of swabs carried out indicates that there is likely to be a significant number of untraced positive cases. Added to this is poor vaccination coverage and critical oxygen shortages.
Meanwhile, the WHO is working to ensure the supply of essential medical equipment.
The network of Italian pharmacies, through Federfarma, has also promptly responded to the solidarity initiatives of the PGEU by activating a fundraiser to donate medicines and medical devices according to the needs indicated by the Ukrainian Ministry of Health. The first load of medicines left from Naples with over 65 thousand euros in humanitarian aid.
The collection is promoted as part of the "A drug for everyone" project, supported by Federfarma Napoli. Powdered milk, hydrogen peroxide, physiological solution, oxygen cylinders, baby food, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, painkillers and ostomy bags were sent. Federfarma Messina is also preparing to send medicines to Ukraine. The same happens in Puglia, in Emilia-Romagna, in Piedmont. Pharmacies throughout Italy are mobilizing to give concrete help to the Ukrainian people.
source Federfarm – 5 March 2022
Related news: Pets handling from Ukraine
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Ukraine: Egualia companies in Italy and Europe mobilized to send medicines and medical supplies
The donations based on the list issued by the Ukrainian Embassy in Brussels, will be conveyed to the Civil Protection through Banco Farmaceutico
Equalia press release
EGUALIA representing the industry of generics, biosimilars and value added is in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Deeply recognizing ourselves in the dictates of the Italian Constitution, we condemn any act of war and aggression and express our pain for the suffering of the population exposed to the ongoing conflict. Our industry works for a world where everyone has the right and the possibility to access the best therapy available and for this we are for peace.
EGULIA supports the humanitarian support actions carried out in these hours by companies and our European association Medicines for Europe. The priority is to ensure that medicines reach patients who need them in Ukraine, neighboring EU member states, Russia and other countries where access to medicines may be restricted. It is essential to ensure a safe flow of medicines to those in need.
Our associates in Italy and Europe work closely with community authorities and NGOs on the ground to donate medicines and medical supplies, despite difficult circumstances. This is why EGUALIA has joined the humanitarian effort currently underway: through the Banco Farmaceutico platform, the drug donations from our companies, according to the list issued by the Ukrainian Embassy in Brussels, will be sent to the Civil Protection.
This crisis will have a huge impact on patients who need urgent care, but also on those with long-term illnesses that require management with essential medicines. Access to life-saving generics and biosimilars will be essential in the coming weeks and months. This is why our industry has mobilized at European level and is committed to playing its role and providing access to essential and emergency medicines.
We are evaluating the impact of any possible supply chain disruption due to the current situation, in compliance with any rules or sanctions implemented by the competent authorities.
To offer further concrete support to populations in Ukraine and those refugees in neighboring EU Member States, EGULIA together with Medicines for Europe and sister national associations across Europe has launched a fundraiser for one of the main humanitarian foundations active in Ukraine , also thanks to the constant contact with the companies of our industry operating in the country.
As operators in the Italian and European healthcare community, we will work together to address the healthcare needs of all people affected by this war, in Ukraine and neighboring countries, as part of the wider ongoing humanitarian effort.
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Statement by the President of Farmindustria, Massimo Scaccabarozzi
“Together with the drug companies in Italy, I express strong concern about the intensification of the armed conflict in Ukraine. With Efpia (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) we confirm our willingness to ensure that patients in countries affected by the crisis continue to have access to the medicines they need.
Our country exported on average in 2020-2021 over 310 million euros a year of pharmaceutical products to Russia and Ukraine, which are also important for exports throughout the supply chain.
We therefore share and support Efpia's appeal to the parties involved to exclude the entire drug supply chain from the scope of the sanctions, from medicines to active pharmaceutical ingredients, from any other intermediate goods for the production of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines, to machinery and to the packaging.
We pledge to work to limit the impact of the conflict on the supply of medicines and the clinical trials needed by patients in the areas affected by the serious situation."
