On Saturday night, the first shipment of medicines purchased by the Social Security Fund (CSS) arrived in Panama from Colombia after negotiations with pharmaceutical laboratories in that country.
Dr. María Teresa Donderis said that among the medicines that arrived in this shipment there are antineoplastics that will benefit cancer and hematology patients for hospital use.
He indicated that other medicines that arrived had not been acquired for more than 5 years, since there were no proponents in Panama. He announced that another batch will be arriving next week.
For her part, Dr. Gina Román, director of CSS Planning, said that this acquisition represents significant cost savings, up to 60% less than what the entity was currently paying.
These medications were purchased in accordance with the regulations for joint purchases of medications declared critically out of supply, through Executive Decree No. 26 of March 15, 2022.
The Decree is part of the mechanisms approved by the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, following a recommendation from the technical table for medicines.
Through the expedited mechanism for the acquisition of products from the list demanded by the insured population, in response to the declaration of critical shortage of medicines or pharmaceutical products, CSS authorities completed the customs procedures for the authorization of entry into the country, of the following medications: 200 vials from the BLAU Laboratory of Etoposide 20mg/ml, solution, IV prescribed for the treatment of lymphomas and testicular teratoma; and 24 vials from the BLAU Laboratory of Gemcitabine 1 g, lyophilized powder, IV for the treatment of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
