The Fund for the Fight against Acute Respiratory Disease COVID-19 was established in accordance with the amendments to the state budget for 2020. The size of the fund is UAH 64.7 billion.
As of June 15, the Government has made a decision (including protocol decisions) to allocate UAH 36.1 billion from the COVID-19 anti-fund: in accordance with Government resolutions, UAH 18.7 billion has been allocated, protocol decisions provide for the possibility of allocating another UAH 17.4 billion. UAH of the Fund’s funds.
Fund funds can be directed to:
- Measures to prevent the occurrence and spread, localization and elimination of outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics COVID-19;
- Additional surcharges to the salaries of medical and other employees who are directly engaged in the elimination of the disease;
- Provision of financial assistance to citizens, in particular the elderly, in connection with the negative consequences of the spread of coronavirus disease;
- Providing a transfer to the Pension Fund of Ukraine;
- Provision of financial assistance to the Social Insurance Fund and the Fund of Compulsory State Social Insurance in the Event of Unemployment;
- Other areas provided by law;
As of June 15, UAH 1.8 billion of the Fund was actually used.
On June 17, at a meeting of the Government, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal instructed the Ministry of Finance to strengthen control over the efficiency of the use of COVID-19 funds to prevent their misuse or abuse. The Ministry of Finance will report weekly on the use of the fund.
Coordination of activities is carried out at the level of the central office of the State Audit Office. The receipt, comparison and analysis of information from the State Treasury, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Regional Development, the National Health Service, the State Employment Center and the Social Insurance Fund on the distribution and expenditure of COVID-19 .
The Ministry of Finance also monitors the Prozorro electronic procurement system and open databases on a daily basis to obtain up-to-date information on procurement procedures, contracts and payments aimed at purchasing goods, works and services related to the fight against COVID-19; the list of customers who have made risky purchases is being processed.
Cooperation has been established with law enforcement agencies, in particular with the Security Service of Ukraine, in terms of exchanging information on risky procurement.
Territorial subdivisions of the State Audit Office interact with the heads of local authorities to exchange information on the use of local budgets and ensure control measures.
One of the latest initiatives of the Ministry of Finance is the resolution adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on the disclosure of beneficial owners for the procurement of the COVID-19 fund.
Strengthening control over the efficiency and targeted use of COVID-19 budget funds will be continued.