Through a digital platform called MedicApp, Panamanians will be able to know the price of the medicines they require, their availability and proximity in relation to the location of their home or where they are within a range of 5 kilometers, this was established after the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, will approve the recommendation of the Technical Board of Medications to implement this portal.
The general administrator of the National Authority for Government Innovation (AIG), Luis Oliva, explained that this geopositioning technology will allow the user to search all around for the medicine, providing the citizen with information on each pharmacy and its cost.
This platform, which was created by the AIG and the Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (Acodeco), will allow pharmacy owners, through a user number, to enter the platform to update prices in their shops.
Oliva reported that this Friday, September 16, a virtual training will be given for the more than 1,300 pharmacies in the country, whose owners will be able to learn about the portal and its operation. “Between today and tomorrow, the Pharmacy and Drugs Department will be sending you an email with the username and password to enter the portal; if you do not receive this notification, you can contact this entity”, explained the director of the AIG.
“Users who already have a profile in Panama Digital will be able to use this portal,” said Oliva.
The Vice President of the Republic, José Gabriel Carrizo Jaén, who leads the Technical Committee on Medications, stated that MedicApp was a campaign proposal by President Cortizo Cohen embodied in his Action Plan and that, thanks to the members of this Committee, “today we can say that it is a promise fulfilled”.
Carrizo Jaén reiterated his gratitude “to each one of the members of the Technical Table of Medications, for their willingness to contribute and seek solutions that last over time to an old problem and that, with courage and effort, this administration assumed ” .
In the meeting, held in the Paz Room of the Presidency, the commissioners approved recommending to President Cortizo Cohen that the necessary process for the modification of Law 6 of 1987 be initiated. This regulation adopts measures for the benefit of retired citizens, pensioners, of the third and fourth age and the stamp tax called peace and social security is created and regulated.
Publio De Gracia, General Director of Revenue, explained that this modification aims to make the discounts and concessions made by businesses that sell medicines to retirees, pensioners, the elderly and people with disabilities in the national territory, be deductible 100 % as a tax credit to the income tax that must be paid to the State.
This recommendation arises from the subcommission, led by the General Directorate of Revenue (DGI) that seeks alternatives to recognize small pharmacies the 20% discount that by law applies to retirees, pensioners and people with disabilities.
The members of the subcommittee also recommend carrying out an educational and cultural campaign by Acodeco in conjunction with small and medium-sized pharmacies to facilitate compliance with the 20% discount, since some grocery stores do not apply it.
In the medicines plenary session, it was also approved to recommend that the president approve an international tour in Turkey, India and the United States, starting next October 1, for the purchase of medicines and to promote the Pharmaceutical Hub.
For her part, Tayra Barsallo, general director of the National Customs Authority, presented the progress of the subcommittee that is preparing the proposal to streamline times and digitize the processes of importing raw materials for medicines for local production, promoting accessibility and transparency in procedures
