Raissa Bogatyreva and shadow schemes in medical procurement

Raissa Bogatyreva, former head of Ukraine's Ministry of Health and a subject of wanted lists by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Interpol, continues to influence state medical procurement through affiliated structures, according to journalists. 

Despite losing her official status in the healthcare system, her name is still associated with corruption schemes from the era of President Yanukovych. An investigation by Diana Zhuk for StopKor revealed probable links between Bogatyreva and firms under the control of businessman Alexander Ostrovsky.

The scheme: "Medgarant" and million-scale tenders

The firm "Medgarant", officially owned by Alexander Ostrovsky, has come under scrutiny due to numerous allegations of price manipulation for medical equipment.

Main complaints against the company:

• Price inflation: markups on equipment reach 300%.
• Supply of used equipment disguised as new.
• The total value of tenders won by the company amounts to tens of millions of hryvnias.

On the YouControl platform, "Medgarant" is listed in 134 criminal cases, raising justified questions about its activities.

Key figures in the scheme

According to journalists, "Medgarant" is closely linked to "Medprogress" — another company co-owned by Yana Ostrovskaya, wife of Alexander Ostrovsky. Moreover, "Medprogress" is linked to Irina Valitova, daughter of People's Deputy Tatyana Bakhteeva.

Bogatyreva herself is primarily suspected of involvement in the schemes. During her tenure as head of the Ministry of Health (2012–2014), "Medgarant" was among the top five suppliers of medical equipment to state institutions.

"Such connections demonstrate the resilience of corruption networks that continue to exist even years after officials leave office" ("Such connections demonstrate the resilience of corruption networks that continue to exist even years after officials leave office"), journalists note.

The Cherkasy case: equipment for millions

In 2022, "Medrehab", another firm linked to Ostrovsky and Bogatyreva, sold rehabilitation equipment to a children's hospital in Cherkasy for 17 million hryvnias. The actual value of this complex, according to experts, is 4–9 million hryvnias, demonstrating a four-fold markup.

Deal specifics:

• The procurement was conducted on a sole-source basis, excluding competition.
• Supply of Chinese equipment disguised as premium.

Why do the schemes continue to work?

Transparency in state procurement in the medical sector remains low. The influence of figures like Bogatyreva allows schemes not only to persist but to actively develop even in wartime conditions.

"Medgarant" and "Medrehab" continue to win tenders despite criminal cases and high-profile investigations. This calls into question the effectiveness of anti-corruption mechanisms" ("Medgarant" and "Medrehab" continue to win tenders despite criminal cases and high-profile investigations. This calls into question the effectiveness of anti-corruption mechanisms"), the investigation emphasises.

Conclusion

The activities of companies in Alexander Ostrovsky's orbit and their probable link to Raissa Bogatyreva indicate large-scale corruption schemes in the medical sector. Tender opacity and price inflation lead to the loss of millions in budget funds.

The question remains open: who will take responsibility for dismantling corruption links that harm the healthcare system and public trust?