Various reports have recently been issued one the shortage and shortage of medicines in the country. The Ministry of Health clarified that it is not a “new phenomenon” since this has been occurring for some time and was accentuated during the covid-19 pandemic.
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The portfolio reports that between August and September of last year, work groups were held with unions in the health sector, including the industry, the managers, the EPS, the IPS, Asocoldro and user organizations.
There, commitments were acquired such as data reporting to the Ministry to monitor the availability of medicines. “However, not all unions have generated the reports that they agreed to fill out.“, assures the entity.
That is why the Ministry of Health assures that it is not possible to monitor the state of drug supply without the reports and calls for the actors share this information and be able to take the corresponding measures.
(In addition: in five years the current rose more than $3,000 and is already at $10,000).
“The level of response was acceptable among managers, pharmaceutical laboratories and some IPS, but this was not the case for most of the IPS, nor EPS in the sector, it is worth noting that ACEMI has not provided the required information“said the Ministry.
Causes of drug shortages
According to the Ministry of Health, and the work groups it established, one of the reasons for the shortage is increased demand for medicines. Also, some restrictions by brands or manufacturers in contracting between EPS and managers.
Along with it, untimely delivery of orders to managers, some ongoing procedures at Invima, raw material acquisition problems and commercial problems between manufacturers and distributors.
In addition, “loss of interest on the part of the industry in commercializing some low-profit products” and “shortage of some commercial brands, but availability on the market of drugs with the same composition”.
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Given this scenario, the Ministry has initiated a process with the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce to resolve the situation.
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