[ad_1]
Havana, July 19 (RHC) Although the first half of the year 2018 is not free of problems with the availability of drugs in the Cuban pharmacy network, compared with the previous two years – when shortages occur of drugs have reached oscillate between 70 and a hundred products – greater stability has been achieved, the science master Rita María García Almaguer, director of operations and technology of the group of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries (BioCubaFarma), said to the press
. the specialist last June ended with 48 faults in the national health system, among which, those who have the most impact correspond to the priority products: those who are vital, respond to specific programs and have no substitute, and therefore has a greater connotation for the population, says the Granma newspaper.
In this group, he says, faults have displaced between 15 and 20 drugs in this group. the 2018 period, and there are 18 medications not available at this time. "Towards there we are concentrated, because they are the ones for whom there is no other therapeutic indication, although the doctor may suggest other d? pharmacological action similar, "said García Almaguer
on 761 drugs. of the national production, of which 482 correspond to BioCubaFarma, and another 275 are imported. "We are responsible for 82% of the products that go to pharmacies, so our industry has a lot of weight in the drugs that go to the people."
Among the causes that prevent complete stability in the production and supply of drugs to the health system, the interviewee mentioned, as the most determining, the lack of timely financing to pay suppliers, with whom the purchase of raw materials, packaging materials and supplies is negotiated ; and the fact that some suppliers have closed factories, such as China and India, which has led to reorientation of purchases.
"This is a very specific industry.If a supplier stops offering a certain product, looking for another one involves starting a validation process. At least three months, that is, it takes time.We have been trying for years to get more from one supplier for a product, for when there is an immediate alternative, but it's not in all cases, "he said.
"Equally important is the American blockade, which entails high costs because of the non-use of the dollar in transactions, bank difficulties, the use of third countries to purchase equipment, spare parts US, chemical reagents and other inputs and the acquisition of raw materials in very competitive markets, etc. In 2018, in at least three products we had to redirect raw material purchases because We have not counted on alternatives, and they are still missing drugs, "says the official.
Among those who are not available, she mentions primaquine and amiodarone – for which no supplier Has been found, but alternatives are being sought by the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) – and clonazepam and alprazolam, products for which the res source has not reached supplier has not been available, but between the 17th and 27th of this month will arrive in the country, and in August will go to production and distribution in the health system.
He commented that in a low coverage continue some antibiotics such as cefuroxime, already with the immediate entry of raw materials, and cefotaxime, which is located on the national territory. In the case of pentoxifylline, stability will not be achieved until September
The raw material of allopurinol, another of the drugs also affected, has arrived in the country.
Other products such as reagent strips for measuring blood glucose, and antiretrovirals – whose active ingredients have just arrived and are being badyzed for incorporation into production – should begin to stabilize .
In the case of creams and ointments, the specialist reported that the month of June ended with four absences, compared to the 25 that were achieved in previous years, and pointed out that Factory is today at full capacity.
García Almaguer noted that "since January the industry has presented stability in terms of delivery of dipyrone, one of the drugs that had the most impact before. Every month this year we delivered 84 million tablets to the public health system, managing to maintain a 30-day coverage to reach the population. "
He clarified that from September, in addition to the dipyrone of 300 mg, the 500 mg dipyrone will be distributed, and in this sense, he explained that public health authorities are already offering information to the population to avoid what is now a habit of Cubans, referring to consume two tablets of this drug.
With regard to aspirin 125 mg, which is imported and provided by the Ministry of Health, the specialist said that a supplier is not yet found, although the Have been working since last year on the introduction of 81 mg of aspirin and 500 mg of aspirin have been provided. The latter was little covered because of the instability of the raw material, but it happened in the country and the production process began
"Today, the industry is making an effort And we are working to improve the logistics cycle and we produce in larger quantities than in previous years, convinced that the most important thing is that the necessary drugs are available in the quantity needed, "he concluded.
The Cuban biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry plans an investment plan until 2030 year of more than $ 2 billion, which will contribute to the expansion of productive capacity with standards high.
(Granma)
Source link
