The Viola pharmaceutical factory is one of the most powerful enterprises of this sector in the South-East of Ukraine. Here they work according to international quality standards, focus on the client and implement innovations. Oleksandr Chanchikov, chairman of the board of PrJSC FF Viola, told the NOVEM magazine about the significant events of the past year and the vectors of the factory’s work.
MR. ALEXANDER, HOW WAS 2021 FOR THE VIOLA PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY?
I think it was the result of previous long work. For several years now, we have been consistently implementing one of our main ideas – to make drugs more convenient and accessible for everyone. It is important to us that our clients receive only high-quality and effective means that are convenient for treatment. So, we started to develop new forms of release of drugs for the patient’s compliance with the treatment. And in November, the production of syrups in sticks was launched – this is a compact package that simplifies the use of drugs. Well-known syrups based on herbal extracts, which should be used for coughs, have this form of release: Plantain syrup, Althea root, Licorice root, Ivy, Pertusyn. In December, we launched a new workshop for the production of solid dosage forms. This is the 6th workshop of the factory, where we plan to produce tablets and capsules. In particular, products based on plant extracts, which will be useful for customers who follow a healthy lifestyle, prefer plant forms. Separately, we plan to release a line of drugs in capsules for vegans.
YOU MENTION TREATMENT COMPLIANCE. EXPLAIN WHAT IS THIS?
This is the patient’s voluntary compliance with the prescribed treatment regimen. That is, a person takes medication on time, in full doses, follows recommendations on diet and lifestyle, and most importantly – completes treatment. That is why we made two dosage forms of drugs. For example, cough syrup Pertusyn in a bottle of 200 ml for treatment at home and its single dose in the form of a stick to take with you.
I THINK IT’S REALLY CONVENIENT – CAPSULES, STICKS. HOW DID THE IDEA COME ABOUT?
Based on our own experience and study of the international market, our team annually attends the most prestigious global pharmaceutical events. Probably, everyone has faced the temptation to leave treatment when you already feel better and don’t want to carry around a whole first-aid kit. And the drain can be taken with you to the office, on a trip, even to the child’s school, that is, to maintain the course of reception at the right time, and, in the end, to recover. So it is a convenient solution for active people who want to be healthy.
PLEASE TELL US HOW YOU WERE ACHIEVED TODAY’S LEVEL OF QUALITY?
For us, quality means taking care of the client’s health. And the quality and health of the client is the main thing in our strategy. At first, we had one laboratory – a physical and chemical laboratory, which was constantly modernized. But all other analyzes required by the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine and our quality control methods were carried out in third-party laboratories
under contract This prompted us to invest in our microbiological laboratory – now we do all the necessary analyzes ourselves. There are many of them: from the incoming inspection of the sample and the entire batch of raw materials to the analysis of the semi-finished product and the final product. The laboratories of the quality control department are certified by the State Medical Service of Ukraine, and based on their results, the Quality Department issues quality certificates for raw materials and finished products. We have been operating a certified integrated quality management system in accordance with international standards ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and ISO 22000 (HACCP) for many years. Our clients can always be sure of the consistently high level of quality of our drugs.
A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU LEADED THE BOARD OF VIOLA. HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THIS STEP, DID YOU HAVE DOUBTS?
There was a choice, but not doubt. While still in the position of financial director of the holding, I became the winner in the Best Financial Project of 2018 nomination according to the Strategic Business Review publication. That was the moment when I realized that I had reached the top as a CFO and wanted to move on. In fact, thoughts are material, because it was then that the offer to lead Viola appeared. It was a challenge I decided to accept. The factor of effective cooperation with Viola’s top management team and their support, as well as the experience of interacting with other functions in the business, besides financial ones, had an impact. Back in 2010, I graduated from MBA. And this gave an understanding of how much more functions a manager should cover in business: to take into account the laws of macroeconomics, strategic marketing, management and personnel development tools, organizational behavior, leadership, law, project management rules, and management.
VIOLA TODAY IS…?
Viola already has 6 production shops: liquid medicines (tinctures, syrups, solutions); packaging; medicinal plant raw materials (plant collections and herbal teas); soft medicines (ointments, gels); medical devices and a workshop of solid medicines. These are certified laboratories, licensed warehouses of raw materials and finished products. Also – highly qualified professionals in the field of creation, production and quality control of drugs, in particular – doctor of pharmaceutical sciences, candidate of pharmaceutical sciences. We constantly cooperate with many famous scientists of Ukraine.
And these are more than 200 names of products of our own TM, which is in demand among customers throughout Ukraine, and products under the TM of pharmacy chains. In 3 years, the factory grew from 280 to more than 400 employees. We, like all modern businesses, gravitate towards automation, but we understand that there are those special production processes in which humans cannot be dispensed with. In addition, these are jobs for Zaporozhians and considerable amounts of taxes to the regional budget and the Pension Fund. Which, of course, works for the region and the state in general.
