Access to Medicines
This article was originally published in SRA
Executive Summary
Argentina to improve medicines production, distribution and access
Argentina to improve medicines production, distribution and access
Argentina's health ministry has created a national programme to address problems relating to the production, distribution and access to medicinal products and medical devices following the economic, social and political crisis that took place several years ago1.
The main objectives of the National Programme for the Official Production of Medicinal Products, Vaccines and Medical Devices are to:
- study the demand for medicines in terms of their active principles and quantities;
- carry out a census and register all official (ie government) pharmaceutical laboratories;
- co-ordinate an update of the laboratories' facilities and implementation of regulations with the respective competent authorities;
- define strategic lines of production to meet public health needs; and
- establish interministerial links to improve the exchange of know-how and tools to avoid production overlap.
Since 2000-2001, the Argentinian government has introduced a number of policies to promote and assure the accessibility, equity and supply of medicines and devices. The regulation that creates the programme is intended to develop a structure that will bring politically acceptable and sustainable solutions to the above objectives.
MIGUEL JC NAPOLITANO
References
1. Ministry of Health, Resoluci�n 286/2008, Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, No 31.383, 14 April 2008