- ×Entities in the sector defined the roadmap to ensure better and more timely access to quality and innovative therapies
With the objective of reviewing compliance with the commitments acquired by the different entities that make up the Technical Table of Medicines of the Executive, the Central American and Caribbean Federation of Pharmaceutical Laboratories (Fedefarma) held a discussion last Thursday, March 23, where it met to authorities of the Government of Panama and to representatives of innovation and development companies.
Conversation Participants
In this activity, the progress in the implementation of the improvements identified and required to improve health services for the benefit of all Panamanians was reviewed; themes that have been taken into account during the six months of conversations at the established working tables.
All this, given the problem of shortages in the CSS, non-optimal purchasing processes and the need to update medical lists.
During the conversation, the Minister of Health, Dr. Eyra Ruíz, participated; the Minister for the Facilitation of Private Investment, Lic. José Alejandro Rojas and the National Director of Pharmacy and Drugs, Elvia Lau. In addition, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Social Security Fund and other members participated. of the Technical Board.
For Victoria Brenes, Executive Director of Fedefarma, coordination between entities is vital in the current situation. "Currently, the health system faces important challenges that require a comprehensive solution to safeguard its continuity and sustainability, and at Fedefarma we believe that these solutions can only be achieved through the collaboration and commitment of all sectors responsible for health. public, such as the government, private sector, patient organizations, among others.
Review of regulations and institutional bureaucracy are key to solving shortage problems. For the Federation, there are four key areas of work that were reviewed during the conversation:
- 1.Modify the existing regulations that prevent access to new treatments for up to 5 years, while subject to an evaluation process for inclusion in the national health system.
- 2.Update the process and drug lists of health institutions that allow for the expeditious resolution of requests for inclusion of new therapies in the Official List of Medicines (LOM).
- 3.Adopt new purchasing mechanisms, including Managed Entry Mechanisms (MEA), which allow the prompt inclusion of innovative products subject to their effectiveness and efficacy at the health level and budgetary impact.
- 4.Eliminate bureaucratic barriers that generate a setback in contracting processes and, therefore, have a direct effect on institutional shortages of medicines.
Fedefarma considers that, by eliminating these barriers and thanks to the socioeconomic conditions of Panama, the country presents an optimal opportunity to become a Health Innovation Cluster based on Research and Development (R&D); Therefore, it will continue working to support the authorities in the execution of the commitments made and other comprehensive solutions that benefit the quality of life of the population.
Source: Press release provided by INTERAMERICANA DE COMUNICACIÓN - FEDEFARMA.
