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, "...
Alba Medicamentos aims to create a company to distribute and market pharmaceuticals in Nicaragua, and a regional distribution facility.
Alba Medicamentos plans to create a distributor and marketer of pharmaceutical products, and the installation of a regional center for the collection, storage and distribution of medical supplies.
The initiative aims to lower drug prices for consumers, reported Laprensa.com.ni.
The Social Insurance Department has issued a tender for the supply, storage, transportation and delivery of medications to hospitals and clinics over the period of one year.
Addendum No. 3 Public Tender 01-2011–II A call for fixed unit prices on the supply, storage, transportation and delivery of drugs and special medications: including narcotics and controlled substances, biological, biotechnological and other materials (as set out in the conditions of tender, its addenda and attachments) to hospitals, clinics and other places managed by the Social Insurance Department nationwide, during the term of 12 months minimum.
After 10 years in the making, a law regulating the importation and distribution of drugs, cosmetics and other substances of therapeutic effect has finally been approved by the Legislative Assembly.
The law aims to establish a legal framework for the import and distribution of drugs, cosmetics and other substances of therapeutic effect, both domestic and foreign.
The Finance Minister has rescinded a resolution which annulled the awards for four major drug purchases, which were awarded without having been part of a tender process.
The pressure exerted by the Social Security Institute (IGSS in Spanish) was instrumental in Finance Minister Pavel Rye’s u-turn, in the case of contracts totaling $256 million.
The IGSS‘s argument was that lack of medicine caused by the cancellation of the contracts was affecting users of the system.
The Union of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Guatemala is protesting over the cancellation of purchases processed at the end of the previous government, and the start of the current one.
The Union of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (Grefarma) declared its opposition to the rescindment of open contracts for drug purchases by the Finance Minister Pavel Centeno.
Four tenders for the procurement of medicines have been canceled in Guatemala, on the grounds that they were approved by the outgoing government a few days before the change of command.
The Ministry of Finance reported on the cancellation of 4 tenders for the supply of medicines via open contract.
The official argument holds that the tender was published on November 23rd , 2011 and the submission of tenders took place on 12th and 13th of January 2012, a very short time before the change of command, which took place on 14th January.
The new law punishes the distribution and marketing of counterfeit medicines with sentences of one to ten years.
A press release by the Government of the Republic of Guatemala reads.
This Friday (December 9, 2011) Legislative Decree 28-2011 was published in the Official Journal describing the law on combating the production and marketing of counterfeit drugs, adulterated drugs, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and forged medical devices and surgical materials.
While the government is renewing 10 contracts worth $298 million and one single company gets 23%, many question the lack of competition in this area of public procurement.
Authorities from the Ministry of Public Finance indicated that with these renewals they will have enough medicine reserves for 2012 for the Ministry of Health, the Military Medical Center and the Guatemalan Social Security Institute.
Smuggling and counterfeiting of drugs like Viagra and antibiotics is growing in Panama.
Panama’s privileged geographical location brings great benefits, but also risks.
Such is the case of drug smuggling, as the country has become a transit and distribution centre for these illegal products, which are sold on the black market at prices lower than in pharmacies and other authorized outlets.
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 trade in counterfeit drugs circulating in Nicaragua has become a serious public health issue.
Nicaragua has developed into a major marketplace for counterfeit medicine manufactured without any quality controls. Its epicenter is in the capital's so-called "Eastern Market" where many popular drugs can be purchased.
Alejandra Ehlers writing for Laprensa.com.ni comments that, "the sale of fake drugs is a problem that has spread across the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) one in ten of all medicines sold is fake, ineffective or has the potential to cause death".
The pharmaceutical consortium will install a $25 million lab in the Mexican state of Chiapas.
The facility is expected to employ 180 workers in its first year of operation, growing to 300 over the next four years.
“Some 300 generic medicines will be elaborated in Grupo Pharma’s laboratory in Chiapas. The company also plans to open 400 drug stores in the southern states of Mexico”, reported Terra.com.
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.