Mejorar el acceso a medicamentos y otras tecnologías sanitarias, un requisito para lograr la salud universal: Director de OPS – OPS/OMS

Mexico City, October 24, 2023 (PAHO) – During his visit to Mexico, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, highlighted at a regional pharmacovigilance meeting that the crisis unleashed by COVID -19 showed the importance of geographically diversifying the production of health technologies in order to guarantee equitable access that allows progress towards universal health in the Americas.

During a keynote conference within the framework of the XVIII International Pharmacovigilance Meeting of the Americas held in the Mexican capital and organized by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) of Mexico, Dr. Barbosa explained that the pandemic has highlighted the need of regional collaboration and reducing dependence on imports of medical supplies.

“PAHO is collaborating with its Member States to expand the development and production of health technologies, including greater and better use of regional mechanisms such as the Revolving Fund and the Strategic Fund,” stressed Dr. Barbosa.

He also emphasized that, to increase local production of medicines and health technologies, “it is necessary to have robust regulatory systems that can address the needs of the region in a coordinated manner.”

The Director of PAHO recognized the successful approach that the region has applied in recent years to improve the regulatory capacities of its health systems, which includes the identification of eight National Regional Reference Regulatory Authorities (RNAr) by their degree of functionality.

However, he warned that challenges still persist to strengthen regulatory systems in the region, as well as reduce the existing gaps between them.

“Regional integration requires a shared vision and a clear disposition of the various actors to promote the strengthening of regulatory systems. Only in this way will it be possible to minimize obstacles and enhance regional cooperation with a view to ensuring equitable access to quality health technologies,” said Dr. Barbosa.

The participation of the PAHO Director in this activity is marked by his official visit to Mexico this week, during which meetings were held with the Secretary of Health, Jorge Alcocer, and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena.

Dr. Barbosa’s agenda also includes a meeting with the Head of Government of Mexico City, Martí Batres, and meetings with authorities from the National Commission on Mental Health and Addictions (CONASAMA), from the Ministry of Health of Mexico City. . , from the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico and the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), as well as representatives of civil society organizations related to the right to health.