Ukraine’s Security Service says a high-ranking former official from Ukraine’s health sector stands accused of actions that could undermine public health safeguards. The claim, published on the Security Service’s Telegram channel, alleges that the person involved took an illegal step to register a drug through a simplified procedure. The substance in question is described as a foreign product that, according to investigators, is actually a nutritional supplement and still requires additional study to verify its medical usefulness. The agency notes that this drug, despite not having demonstrated efficacy on the basis of established medical recommendations, received a state license and has seen broad use in treating COVID-19 based on the official’s guidance. The specific name of the product was not disclosed in the disclosure provided by the authorities.
Further details from the investigation indicate that the official, who was dismissed in the previous week, has been identified by media outlets as Oleksandr Komarid. Strana.ua, an electronic publication, reported this identification. The individual has served as the deputy head of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine since June 2021, and prior to that role he led the board responsible for the procurement and supply of medicines within the Ministry of Health.
Additional context from recent regional reports notes ongoing concern about the spread of the virus, including headlines about high infection counts in neighboring countries, underscoring the continuing urgency of careful oversight and adherence to medical regulatory standards in the management of COVID-19 related therapies.