Unofficial translation

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Welfare of Georgia, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova, and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, hereinafter referred to as the “Parties,”

expressing their wiliness for further strengthen and develop fruitful cooperation in the field of healthcare, based on the principles of independence and integrity of healthcare systems,

expressing their wiliness for further strengthen and develop fruitful cooperation in the field of healthcare with the aim of strengthening friendly relations between the GUUAM Member States,

with the aim of identifying a new forms and areas of cooperation and leveraging best practices in healthcare within the GUUAM framework,

have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Parties shall develop cooperation for further improvement of national health systems.

 

Article 2

The Parties shall develop mutually beneficial cooperation in the following areas of health care and medical science:

  • organization of health care and disease prevention;
  • exchange of operational information on the epidemiological situation;
  • providing assistance to adults and children;
  • training of scientific and medical personnel;
  • pharmaceuticals and medical equipment;
  • joint scientific research;
  •  exchange of information in the field of healthcare based on the Interstate Information and Analytical System (MIAS) being created within the GUUAM framework;
  •  economics of healthcare and medical science;
  • spa treatment;
  • other areas of cooperation of mutual interest.

Article 3

Relations between organizations collaborating in the field of healthcare shall be carried out on the basis of direct agreements, which must comply with the laws of all states and are subject to the agreement of the Parties.

Article 4

The Parties shall promote the development of direct cooperation between research institutes, medical institutions, and healthcare institutions with the aim of exchanging experience in the field of medical science and information on pharmaceutical products, technological developments, and new medical equipment.

Article 5

 The Parties shall inform each other on international scientific symposia, congresses, conferences and seminars planned in their countries.

Article 6

In order to study issues of further development of cooperation, strengthening ties and exchanging work experience, the Parties will exchange delegations at the level of representatives of the ministries of health, health care authorities and also medical educational institutions, as well as will held joint theoretical, scientific and practical conferences, seminars and symposiums.

Article 7

The relevant authorities of the Parties shall exchange lists of medical literature and films on healthcare issues, as well as other written, video or audio materials on medical issues.

Article 8

 Specific activities arising from the provisions of this Agreement, as well as the terms and conditions for their implementation, shall be defined in separate protocols, prepared annually and forming an integral part of this Agreement. To ensure coordination and cooperation between the Parties in implementing this Agreement, a Permanent Commission shall be established on a parity basis. It shall be convened at the request of one of the Parties as necessary, but at least once a year.

Article 9

The Parties shall establish direct links between its sanitary and epidemiological services.

Article 10

This Agreement shall be without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Parties under other international agreements to which they are Parties.

Article 11

This Agreement is concluded for a term of 5 (five) years and shall enter into force on the date of submission to the depository of the second notification of completion by the Parties of all necessary domestic procedures.

For the Parties that submit their notifications after this date, the Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of such notification by the Depository.

The Depository of this Agreement is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

The Agreement shall be automatically extended for subsequent five-year periods, and either Party may terminate its participation in the Agreement by sending a written notice to the Depository of its desire to withdraw from the Agreement no less than 6 (six) months prior to the expiration of the relevant period.

By mutual consent of the Parties, amendments and additions to this Agreement may be made in separate Protocols, which shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement. The Protocols shall enter into force according to the procedure provided by the Articles 8 and 11 of this Agreement.

Done in Chisinau on April 22, 2005, in one original copy in Russian language.