03 November 2009, 17:52
The funds aimed for fighting flu epidemic in Ukraine shall be effectively used by the Ministry of Public Health, instead of filling the Reserve Fund of the Cabinet of Ministers used by the Government to fund the election campaign of the Prime Minister. Oleksandr Lavrynovych, First Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made the above-mentioned statement, discussing the Bill on Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2009" (re Supply of all the Hospitals of the Country with the Required Medicine and Equipment to diagnose the Disease and prevent Spreading of Flu Epidemic) at the morning plenary meeting on 3 November. Pursuant to the Law, UAH 1 billion is allocated to the Ministry of Public Health of Ukraine to fight flu epidemic.
"Epidemic apparently requires clear-cut and professional resolutions. If the chief administrator has the funds for corresponding programs, it may be more effective", - stated the First Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. He stated that "the cases of misapplication of funds from the Reserve and Stabilization Funds are frequent".
O.Lavrynovych insisted that the Ministry of Public Health be appointed a chief administrator of the budget funds aimed for fighting flu epidemic, as "the use of funds through the Reserve Fund is the shortest way to misapplication".
The politician substantiated his opinion with the list of resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on allocation of funds from the Reserve Fund.
"I will demonstrate the list of resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on allocation of funds from the Reserve Fund. Thus, UAH 15 million were allocated to organize the All-Ukrainian Council on the Socio-Economic Development of Rural Settlements with the Participation of Village and Township Mayors, UAH 20 million for the establishment of the public institution "Social Contact Center", UAH 15 million for the celebration of the Independence Day, UAH 10 million to replenish the authorized capital of "Dokument" enterprise", - stated the politician and made a remark: "The list is rather long".
"The funds for fighting flu epidemic are allocated with good intentions, not to be misapplied, especially in the period of election campaign", - stressed the First Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. He also stressed: "To fight the epidemic, the Ministry of Public Health shall receive and use the funds allocated. Its departments are located throughout the whole Ukraine, thus, it can settle any issues without extra bureaucratic procedures".
Oleksandr Lavrynovych also stressed that almost all the People´s Deputies upheld the resolution "On Immediate Measures to be taken to prevent Spreading of Pandemic Influenza in Ukraine".
According to Oleksandr Lavrynovych, the Government is obliged to provide strict control for the correct use of funds aimed at the epidemic overcoming and in one-week term adopt register of Sanitary Protection of the Territory of Ukraine Rules. The Government also is supposed to elaborate common approaches regarding the information on development of epidemic situation, caused by the spread of influenza epidemic of pandemic influenza A type (H1N1).