The Technical Table for Medicines, led by the Vice President of the Republic and Minister of the Presidency, José Gabriel Carrizo Jaén, approved delivering to the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, the recommendations to expand the Social Security Fund to five polyclinics ( CSS) the MedicSol program and the international purchase of 22 drugs with the aim of reducing shortages and the high cost of drugs in the country.
After completing the plenary of the Technical Table in the Paz Room of the Presidency, Carrizo Jaén explained that the commissioners also approved that the Ministry of Health (Minsa) initiate the necessary adjustments to include uninsured patients in the MedicSol program.
Similarly, approval was given for updating the regulations of Law 1 of January 10, 2001 on medicines and other products for human health.
In the plenary, the commissioners gave the go-ahead to start Stage 1B and include five new CSS polyclinics in the MedicSol program, including Dr. JJ Vallarino (Juan Díaz) and Dr. Carlos N. Brin (San Francisco ), in the province of Panama.
While in the interior the polyclinics Santiago Barraza (La Chorrera), Gustavo Ross (David, Chiriquí) and Horacio Díaz Gómez (Santiago, Veraguas) are included.
Carrizo Jaén explained that the purchase of 22 medicines in the international market is a proposal based on cost, safety, efficiency, quality and availability.
He added that in the medium term, purchasing medicines through Comisca (Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic), PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) and UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) are being analyzed.
The Minister of the Presidency stressed that these measures are a priority in the “Joining Forces” action plan of the government led by President Cortizo Cohen.
The vice president stressed that MedicSol is a temporary response to the insured to reduce shortages and the high cost of medicines in the country.
Participating in the plenary were Carlos García, Vice Minister of the Presidency; Gerardo Solís, Comptroller General of the Republic; Luis Francisco Sucre, Minister of Health; Enrique Lau, general director of the CSS; José Alejandro Rojas Pardini, Minister Counselor for the Facilitation of Private Investment; Elvia Lau, national director of Pharmacy and Drugs of the Minsa; Luis Oliva, administrator of the National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG) and Raphael Fuentes, general director of Public Procurement, among other commissioners of the Technical Table of Medicines.
