On 11 – 13 August 2026 the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control specialists participated in the training on the pharmacovigilance system within the framework of the EU Twinning project "Support the Establishment of the State Control Authority for Medicines and Medical Devices in Ukraine".
During the training, Ukrainian specialists learned about the practical experience of Lithuania and the Netherlands. Leading experts in the sphere of blood safety are:
– Dr. W. Martin Smid, MD, PhD, MBA, Director of the Academic Institute IDTM, University of Groningen / Sanquin Consulting Services, the Netherlands,
– Daumantas Gutauskas, Director and Head of Component 1, National Blood Center, Lithuania.
The participants reviewed the experience of operating blood safety surveillance systems in Lithuania and the Netherlands, particularly with regard to the key principles of the transfusion chain, the stages and participants in the investigation of serious adverse events and reactions related to the collection, testing, processing, storage, distribution, and administration of donated blood and blood components, as well as during or after transfusion, etc.
Together with the Ukrainian side, key measures were identified to strengthen the national blood safety surveillance system, taking into account the recommendations provided within the framework of the Twinning project in Ukraine.
Work to align Ukrainian legislation with EU legislation (the EU acquis) is ongoing in cooperation with Twinning project experts.