Launch of the Public Private Partnership with Pharmaceutical Companies

It is a pleasure for me to be here at this launch.  This is an unusual launch that brings together the private sector, and the government, through the Ministry of Health, in a partnership of cooperation.   One common goal in this program is to improve the provision and quality and affordable family planning and reproductive health services to Ukrainian families. We have been a strong supporter of the Ministry of Health in developing a strong policy infrastructure to promote improved family planning and reproductive health services – first through a Policy Planning Project, and now through the Together for Health project. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Ministry of Health for the significant progress in putting together the necessary infrastructure, the policies and programs, and we see that reflected in Reproductive Health of the Nation Program for 2006-2015. By the way, the Ministry of Health and Doctor Orda have been very good partners of ours, working together on a number of common issues, including reproductive health.  We hope that this program, the reproductive health program is approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and we would encourage the Cabinet of Ministers to approve it as soon as possible.   We also very pleased entering the partnership with seven leading national and international pharmaceutical companies to improve the health of Ukrainians.  They are all represented here this morning.   Their participation is further evidence of corporate social responsibility, which has become a growing positive trend in the business community in Ukraine.  Included in this partnership is innovated "total market strategy," developed by this project.  This strategy is aimed at reducing reliance on abortion by working with both the government and the commercial manufacturers of modern contraceptives.   This total market strategy trends sense the corporate bottom line of maximizing profits.  Here we have seven companies, each one of them producing different products, having independent business interests, and often competing one another for market share.   Yet, they have come together for this common goal and so we recognize value of this unusual partnership that is formed.   We think the partnership being signed today has great potential to expand the overall commercial market for modern birth spacing methods.  We hope these pharmaceutical companies will become our long-term partners in ensuring the availability of quality products at affordable prices and also increasing awareness of modern contraceptive methods. Again, let me commend all the partners who are signing the agreement of partnership today, and if we accomplish a goal, we will not only see improved maternal, child and family health, and a better life for millions of Ukrainians, but we will also see a healthier, more robust and growing commercial market for contraceptives in Ukraine. Thank you.