Ukraine's transition to EU standards in the field of health care requires continuous training for physicians, pharmacists, manufacturers and researchers of medicinal products, and managers in the pharmaceutical sector. This applies both to purely professional knowledge and to an understanding of European regulations and standards. In December 2022, the Agency for Methodological and Scientific-Practical Work began operating at the State Expert Center (SEC) of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine; it has offered the professional community training seminars focused on international recommendations and the best global experience in health care. In cooperation with the Center's specialists, the Agency has in a short time reached a level of up to 200 seminars per year. This has already helped hundreds of health care professionals improve their professional competencies.
For more details on how it was possible to draw the attention of the professional community to training at the Center, see the interview in Weekly Apteka with the head of the Agency, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor, former Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine, Honored Healthcare Worker of Ukraine Oleksandr Hudzenko https://www.apteka.ua/article/695525
Oleksandr Pavlovych, how did you manage to gain the Agency’s authority as a training center in such a short time?
— There is no complicated recipe here. The expert knowledge and practical skills provided within our training seminars are the primary source of information in many areas. I would not exaggerate if I said that certain topics within the competence of the Center can be fully covered only by our experts. In particular, the Center, as the primary source, often exclusively provides practical knowledge on the efficacy and safety of medicinal products registered in the country, preclinical and clinical studies of medicines, pharmacovigilance, health technology assessment, or such aspects relevant to the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market as generic medicinal products, bioavailability and bioequivalence, and other topics.
— The frequency with which the Agency you head conducts training seminars shows that you have already captured the audience's attention.
— Obviously, it is. During the year and a half of the Agency's existence, in cooperation with the structural units of the Center, 170 internal trainings and 50 external seminars (including seminars for professional development (CPD)) have been organized and held for applicants, medical and pharmaceutical professionals on the main areas of the Center's activity. In total, more than 1000 participants have taken part in our training seminars.
In addition, under the auspices of the Center, 4 pharmaceutical forums were held with the participation of international partners, who were attended and listened to by more than 1500 specialists.
I am also pleased to note that, based on the results of the survey conducted, we found that the medical and pharmaceutical community recognizes the Center as an authoritative provider of training events and professional development seminars, noting overall satisfaction with the high professional level of their organization, the choice of topics, and the competence of the speakers.
— How do you see your audience, who are they?
— It is quite clear that these are healthcare professionals: doctors, pharmacists, pharmaceutical workers, manufacturers and researchers of medicinal products, managers of the pharmaceutical sector, but other interested persons can also take the course.
We have courses that address issues useful not only to doctors but also to patients. For example, a seminar on clinical trials of medicines explains the conditions under which they are conducted, how a patient can become a participant, and other issues that concern patients specifically.
— And what practical knowledge do you give to professionals?
— During the seminars, participants gain access to advanced methods, the results of the latest research and recent regulatory changes — all of this helps them stand out among other specialists, increase their effectiveness, professionalism and the quality of medical care in general; that is, these are up-to-date skills and knowledge that professionals need.
Let me give a few examples. One of our new professional development seminars is “Important Issues Regarding Generics and Bioequivalence”. As we know, most medicinal products on the Ukrainian market are generics — over 80%. In view of this, it is important to have knowledge of their efficacy and safety. This topic is useful both for medical personnel and for patients.
As a pharmacovigilance authority, within the seminar “Current Issues of Pharmacovigilance” we also provide recommendations on various aspects of the safe use of medicines, vaccines, possible adverse reactions, etc. During the seminar “Medicinal Product Safety: Ukraine’s Experience” we talk about special practical skills that help avoid medical errors, and cover other practical issues of post-registration safety surveillance of medicines and vaccines.
— In your opinion, what are the advantages of training at the Center?
— We present topics at the level of a national regulatory authority. All of the Center’s training programs are based on international recommendations and cover the best global experience. We provide only high-quality content, adapted to the needs of the audience.
Our country’s European integration requires compliance with standards in many areas, including health care. This includes the continuous improvement of the knowledge of health care professionals so that they meet the requirements and needs of the modern medical environment. It is also important to ensure that doctors and pharmacists have not only professional skills but also an understanding of the legal aspects of their work in the context of European standards.
Our speakers are experts with the highest level of qualifications and experience, hold academic degrees, and regularly undergo training and professional development under international programs.
We have more than 30 years of experience in conducting expert evaluation of registration materials and in cooperation with professional international organizations, regulatory authorities of other countries, academic institutions, and leading educational institutions of Ukraine.
The Center's educational events are the best option for professional development and certification for industry specialists, given our expertise, professional value, and focus on international standards. In addition, we effectively combine theory and practice and offer a convenient online format that allows learning without interrupting the work process.
That is why I invite you – come, take part in our seminars, receive certificates and an additional 10 points for your professional portfolio. Let's improve the quality of medical care in Ukraine together. On the road to the EU, we should already invest in training now.
More information about training events can be found on the Center’s website https://bpr.dec.gov.ua/
Based on materials from the press service of the “Weekly APTEKA”
