Minister of Healthcare of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko emphasized that today Ukraine's support from international companies and manufacturers in the confrontation with Russian aggression is "a test of loyalty to universal human values and the best way to show its social standing in the world.
Lyashko wrote about this on Facebook.
"In a war where there are more civilian casualties than military, there should be no doubt whose side you're on," - he said.
Lyashko reminded that the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations and its partner European Federation EFPIA, which unites more than 1,900 European companies in the field of production and development of new medicines, advocates peace, security of humanitarian borders, and access to health care in Ukraine, and those Ukrainians who were forced to leave the country.
Support is provided to Ukraine through the creation of its own humanitarian funds, directly targeted transfers to the Red Cross, UNICEF, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as through direct transfers of medicines.
To date, more than 4.7 million doses of life-saving medicines and more than 28 million euros have already been collected by leading European manufacturers to help Ukraine.
Also, more than 300 executives of pharmaceutical and biotech companies came out with an open letter calling for an end to business and partnerships with Russia and Russian companies.
Lyashko noted that the position of the world's industry leaders is not only to condemn Putin's criminal actions but also to completely ignore those who support him or have allowed this war to begin and continue by their passive silence.
"If anyone still has any ethical doubts about whether such methods, which affect the general population, are worth pressuring one uncontrollable dictator, I cite bioethics professor Arthur L. Kaplan, who addresses world pharma in his scholarly article. "There should be no collusion with war criminals. If someone is satisfied with a government bombing and shelling a peaceful neighbor to oblivion, then the pharmaceutical companies should make an effort to make Putin and his kleptocrats feel the wrath of his people," - Lyashko stressed.
The Ukrainian minister urged global companies to ignore Russia, not to do business with it, and not to supply goods.
As of March 10, Russian troops had already shelled 63 hospitals in Ukraine.
Five medical workers were killed. On March 9, the enemy struck a maternity and children's hospital in Mariupol. Three people were killed, including a little girl.
Russia admits that it shelled these objects deliberately, but lies that there were no civilians there.