[ad_1]
Although the first half of the year 2018 has not been free of problems with the availability of drugs in the country's pharmacy network, compared with the previous two years – when lack of drugs ranged between 70 and 100 products- Rita María García Almaguer, Director of Operations and Technology of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Group (BioCubaFarma), told reporters that the stability was greater.
According to the specialist, last month The month of June ended with 48 absences in the national health system, among which the ones that have the most impact correspond to the priority products: those that are vital, respond to specific programs and have no substitute and therefore have a greater connotation
In this group, he said, absences made between 15 and 20 drugs during this period of 2018, and there are 18 drugs unavailable. It's in these moments. "We are focusing on this, because these are the ones for which there is no other therapeutic indication, although the doctor may suggest to others similar pharmacological actions," explains García Almaguer, BioCubaFarma
. the drugs that make up the base table, 486 drugs are domestically produced, 482 of which 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 significant weight in the drugs that go out to the public."
Among the causes that prevent complete stability in the production and marketing of pharmaceuticals. supply of health system drugs, in addition to internal inefficiencies, the interviewee mentioned as the most determining factors, the lack of timely financing to pay providers, with whom the purchase of materials raw materials, packaging materials and supplies is negotiated. supplies; and the fact that some suppliers have closed factories, as in the case of China and India, which has led to a reorientation of purchases.
"It's a very specific industry in which a supplier stops offering some product, looking for another one involves starting a validation process of at least three months , for which a delay is required.We have been trying for years to get more from a supplier for a product, for when there is an immediate alternative, but it has not been achieved in all case, "he said.
"Equally important is the US blockade, which entails high costs because of the non-use of the dollar in transactions, bank difficulties, the use of third countries to acquire 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 – Clonazepam and Alprazolam, products for which the resource has not been linked. years the cycle because the supplier was not available, but between the 17th and the 27th of this month will arrive in the country, and in August will come out to production and distribution in the health system.
He commented that in the low coverage continue some antibiotics such as cefuroxime, already with the immediate use input of raw materials, and cefotaxime, which is already on the national territory. In the case of pentoxifylline, stability will not be achieved until September.
Other products such as blood glucose test strips and antiretrovirals – whose active ingredients have just arrived and are being processed In the case of creams and ointments, the specialist has reported that the month of June ended with four absences, in comparison with the 25 that had been reached in previous years, and on the other hand, García Almaguer pointed out that "since January, the industry has shown a stability in The delivery of dipyrone, one of the drugs that had the greatest impact, had previously .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 specified that from September, in addition to the 300 mg dipyrone, the 500 mg dipyrone will be distributed, and in this sense, he explained that the authorities of public health that already offer 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 arrived in the country and the production process began.
"Today, the industry is making a considerable effort and is also working on perfecting the logistics cycle, we are producing 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 biotech and pharmaceutical industry plans a 2030 year investment plan of more than $ 2 billion, which will contribute to the expansion of productive capacity with high standards.
Source link
