On 14.07.20112 the amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Drugs", and also to the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" according to which advertising of medicines sold without prescription and not included in the list of prohibited medicines is permitted. The list of drugs that are prohibited to advertising is approved by the central executive authority in the field of health care. Requirements for advertising of such drugs are established by the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising". The criteria used in determining of the drug advertising of which is prohibited, shall be approved by the central executive authority in the field of health care in accordance with the requirements of the law. The decision to classify the drug as the one, which is prohibited to advertising is accepted during state registration (re-registration) of the drug with the appropriate information in the National Catalogue of medicines of Ukraine. Advertising of medicines, the use and release of which is permitted only by prescription, as well as those included in the list of prohibited medicinal products is prohibited.
On 16.07.2012 resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine # 629 was adopted. This resolution made amendments to the Regulations of the State Catalogue of drugs and requires an indication in the Catalogue, among other things, of information whether the drug is the one, advertising of which is prohibited.
On 30.07.2012 in the Official herald of Ukraine #55, 2012 (30.07.12), the law 06.06.2012 # 422of Ministry of Health was published, which was registered by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on 16.07.2012 under #1189/21501 "On some issues of
prohibition on advertising of medicines" (further referred to as Order), which asserts the criteria used in determining drugs advertising of which is prohibited ( http://ovu.com.ua/proceedings/566).
Thus, advertising of drug cannot be permitted if such a drug meets any of the following criteria:
1. Sale of the drug is carried out only by prescription.
2. The drug contains a narcotic, psychotropic substances and precursors.
3. The use of the drug can cause a syndrome of addiction which is specified in the instructions, except for drugs for external (local) application.
4. The drug is used exclusively for the treatment of women during pregnancy and lactation.
5. The drug is used exclusively for the treatment of children under 12 years.
6. The drug is used for treatment of tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, particularly infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, cancer and other tumoral diseases, chronic insomnia, diabetes, obesity (including drugs used for weight loss), impotence (erectile dysfunction).
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