From January to October 2019, purchases of pharmaceutical products made by Central American countries from companies in Mexico totaled $232 million, and 63% was purchased by companies in Panama and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
Since Farmacias Sucre acquired most of the shares of Farmacias Santa Lucía in Costa Rica, sales of the latter have increased by 70%, mainly because of investments made in inventory.
In the first half of 2019, purchases of vaccines for human use in Central America totaled $122 million, 116% more than was reported in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the first six months of the year, imports of pharmaceutical products in Central America totaled $1.717 million, 8% more than in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
The Essential Medicines Program of the Dominican Republic tenders the supply of medicines, aimed at national producers for the period from April 2020 to March 2021.
The Ministry of Health decided to withdraw all registered drugs containing oral ranitidine from the market, arguing that long-term exposure of people to this substance may increase the risk of cancer.
With the available data there is no evidence that the presence of this substance could have caused harm to patients who have consumed the drug, however, the potential risk arising from the cumulative effect, makes it necessary for health regulatory authorities to take different precautionary measures to avoid their presence in medicines, informed local authorities.
In the first quarter of 2019, purchases of vaccines for human use in Central America totaled $66 million, 347% more than was reported in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the third debate, the Assembly approved a bill establishing that the government may make exceptions to the sanitary registration of pharmaceutical products in situations of critical shortage.
At the same time, it empowers the Ministry of Health to purchase medicines under the criteria established by the World Health Organization (WHO), which will allow that when local agents do not participate in the sale, it will be possible to go through international agents, informed the National Assembly on October 3.
Because the country produces only 6% of the medicines demanded, there are several business opportunities that can be explored by industry businessmen.
Currently, local manufacturers do not have the capacity to produce and supply the Panamanian market, which has generated several business opportunities for several companies.
The Ministry of Health of Guatemala published in the Official Newspaper the agreement that regulates the commercialization of antibiotics and ophthalmological steroids, and granted 30 days for pharmacies to begin to implement the restrictions.
The regulation that will begin to govern was approved by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) on August 7, and stipulates that antimicrobial drugs (oral and parenteral antibiotics) and ophthalmic steroids, must be sold after being prescribed. See full agreement.
In El Salvador, 51 private pharmacies in 28 municipalities are tendered for supply and delivery to serve the ISBM user population for the rest of the year.
Deputies of the Guatemalan Congress ask that the agreement that regulates the commercialization of antibiotics and ophthalmological steroids, recently approved by the Executive Branch, be repealed.
Controversy between representatives of the legislature and the executive began after the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) approved Agreement 181-2019 on August 7, 2019, which stipulates that antimicrobial drugs (oral and parenteral antibiotics) and ophthalmic steroids must be sold with a prescription. See full agreement.
In the first three months of the year, imports of pharmaceutical products in Central America totaled $835 million, 15% more than in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
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