Droguería Americana, S.A. de C.V. and C. Imberton, S.A. de C.V., are under investigation for allegedly agreeing on pricing and division of customers relating to the distribution of three medicines nationwide.
The companies investigated are alleged to have agreed to fix prices and divide up customers in relation to distribution of the medicines Cataflam Oral Suspesion9 Mg.120 Mil x 1 (5ml) - an antiinflammatory and antirheumatic-, Diovan Capsules.160 Mg x 14 - related to the cardiovascular system - and Lamisil Tablets 250 Mg.X 28 - topical antifungals used in dermatology.
Pharmaceutical unions in El Salvador have denounced the regulations determining maximum pricing as being contradictory to the Medicines Act
Elsalvador.com reports that the legal counsel for Fedefarma y Diprofa, Luis Chávez, explained that the pricing for drugs is based on the active ingredient and not on each product: "This is the same as me asking for a point of law establishing a price ceiling on mobile phones.
Pharmaceutical industry representatives have expressed concerns about the regulation of the recently passed Medicines Act, noting that it will produce distortions in the functioning of the market.
In an article in Elsalvador.com FEDEFARMA's president, Alvaro Soto, said: "By setting maximum prices for medicines you can get the opposite effect: instead of prices going down, the cheapest generic medicines could go up.
Guatemala did not participate in the final joint price negotiations and purchase of medicines at the regional level in the month of June.
Since 2008, Guatemala has not participated in any regional purchase of medicines, missing out on the opportunity to make savings by buying in bulk.
The negotiations ended in June with six pharmaceutical companies, for the purchase of 19 drugs, representing savings of $16 million for the region, "...
A study of the regional competition in the wholesale supply chain and retail distribution of medicines in Central America.
The study aims at analyzing competition of the drug sector in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama from a regional perspective in order to strengthen coordination among these countries in promoting and protecting competition and universal access to safe medicines.
The cheapest medicines are found in Nicaragua, while those in Guatemala are the most expensive.
The Central American Consumer Protection Council published a study on the consumer prices of a basket of 30 brand name medications and another with 30 corresponding generic medications in 284 pharmacies in Central American capitols.
According to an article published in elnuevodiario.com.ni, a basket of 30 original medications costs $53 in Nicaragua, $61 in Costa Rica, $63 in Honduras, $68 in Panama, $75 in El Salvador, and $77 in Guatemala.