Medizinisches Verbrauchsmaterial

Collection of surgical instruments, consumables and medical infrastructure

This activity by Pro Ukraïna prevents so-called surplus material from being simply disposed of by hospitals and medical practices, which is urgently needed in Ukraine.

Background

In Switzerland, many medical consumables are disposed of in their original sterile packaging if, for example, an expiry date is soon to be reached. This would not be necessary at all, as all doctors with whom we were able to discuss this have confirmed. Nevertheless, this is common practice for liability-reasons. This is absurd, because it can save lives. The same applies to orthopaedic material such as arm and leg splints or special shoes, which are simply thrown away after a short, single use. It is precisely this kind of material that is urgently needed in rehabilitation centres in Ukraine.

Nota bene: Medicines are not included, as their export and import is strictly regulated.

A lot of specialised material also accumulates when medical practices are closed down or handed over because successors often do not take over everything: examination tables, therapy equipment, ultrasound devices and the like.

Implementation

Pro Ukraïna collects such discarded material in vans. It is then sorted, packaged and sent to Ukraine. Suppliers are the partners NeSTU and Parasolka, who are repeatedly asked whether there is interest in such material. Although this is always the case, such transports are not part of the core business of these organisations and exceed their logistical capacity. Pro Ukraïna steps in here and consolidates the loads.

In Uzhhorod, CAMZ regularly declares and imports these goods as relief supplies in accordance with Ukrainian Law No. 9111. An electronic registration tool is used for this purpose. With this law, which also requires relief supplies to be distributed within a reasonable period of time (90 days), the Ukrainian government has put a stop to fraudulent transactions. CAMZ has worked exclusively in accordance with these regulations ever since they came into force.

Status

Pro Ukraïna has already sent such material to Ukraine many times. A current example is a transport with a Ukrainian semitrailer truck that left Switzerland for Ukraine on 22 May 2024 and crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border on 24 May 2024. Unloading in Uzhhorod at CAMZ on 27 May 2024.