You're reading: Lawmaker Konovaliuk says Health Ministry most corrupt agency

Regions Party MP Valeriy Konovaliuk has criticized the process of reform implementation in the public health segment and said that the Health Ministry of Ukraine is the most corrupt agency.

"I critically evaluate the results as of today," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on April 17.

According to the MP, around 700,000 Ukrainians die every year.

"The stable death rate in Ukraine in recent decade could be compared to 1932 when people died of famine," the politician said.

He added that the death rate of cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, and cancer is very high in Ukraine, while the scale and the situation with the sickness rate are underestimated.

Konovaliuk added that the national budget for 2012 allocated Hr 51 billion on public health, while the segment requires Hr 80 billion.

The politician added that the Health Ministry buys a number of medicines at artificially high prices.

"Today [the Health Ministry] is the most corrupt agency," he stated.

According to him, medical issues today are related to the issues of national security of Ukraine.