Ukraine Considers Establishing Medicine Logistics Centers in the Republic of Moldova

Cooperation to Strengthen the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Ukraine’s Ministry of Health is assessing, together with the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, the possibility of establishing logistics centers on Moldovan territory where part of the stock of medicines intended for subsequent delivery to Ukraine could be stored.

The initiative is being considered amid risks generated by Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure, including facilities used for the storage and distribution of medicines. By expanding logistics infrastructure outside the country, Ukrainian authorities aim to reduce vulnerabilities in the supply chain and ensure the continuity of deliveries to the healthcare system.

Discussions Between Ministers and Diplomatic Representatives

The possibility of developing such cooperation was discussed on September 23 during a meeting between Ukraine’s Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Ukraine, Victor Chirila.

According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, the officials discussed several aspects of cooperation in pharmaceutical logistics, including the possibility of storing stocks of medicines in the Republic of Moldova for subsequent transportation to Ukraine.

Dispersal of Stocks as a Priority for Ukraine

Ukrainian authorities have been seeking for some time to reduce their dependence on a limited number of large warehouses. Instead of concentrating significant quantities of medicines in a few locations, the strategy involves distributing reserves across multiple storage facilities, which could limit the impact of potential attacks on logistics infrastructure.

At the end of August, the Government of Ukraine simplified, during the period of martial law, the requirements governing the storage of medicines. The changes allow companies to use additional facilities for storing pharmaceutical products and to distribute reserves across multiple locations.

The Republic of Moldova Could Become an Additional Link in the Logistics System

If the project being considered with the Republic of Moldova is implemented, some of the medicines intended for Ukraine could be temporarily stored outside Ukrainian territory.

Such a solution would enable the geographical diversification of reserves and could reduce the risk of losing significant quantities of medicines if storage infrastructure in Ukraine is affected. At the same time, a cross-border mechanism would require clear procedures regarding transportation, storage and preservation conditions, quality control, batch tracking, and the responsibilities of the institutions and companies involved.

Digitalization of Stock Monitoring

Alongside the reorganization of physical infrastructure, Ukraine’s Ministry of Health is developing the e-Stock electronic system to monitor medicine reserves.

The platform will enable the monitoring of available quantities and the locations where pharmaceutical products are stored. The development of the system is particularly relevant as stocks are distributed across multiple warehouses and, potentially, across several countries.

Through the digitalization of records, the authorities aim to obtain a clearer overview of available reserves and facilitate their management and redistribution according to the needs of the healthcare system.

Bilateral Cooperation in the Healthcare Sector

For the time being, the establishment of medicine logistics centers in the Republic of Moldova remains under consideration, and no specific implementation timetable has been established.

At the same time, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova intend to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector through a joint declaration, the draft of which has already been submitted to the Moldovan side. The document is expected to establish the main areas of cooperation between the two countries in the healthcare sector.

Reorganization of Pharmaceutical Infrastructure

The initiative to store some medicines in the Republic of Moldova is part of a broader process through which Ukraine is reorganizing its pharmaceutical supply system amid the war.

The strategy combines the physical dispersal of stocks, the expansion of storage facilities, digital monitoring through e-Stock, and the identification of cross-border logistics solutions. In this context, cooperation with the Republic of Moldova could contribute to creating an additional logistics network to ensure the continuity of medicine supplies to Ukraine’s healthcare system.