2024-09-11 07:09:55
Cooperation between countries and health systems is important to solve barriers in accessing innovation in timely treatments and diagnoses for patients in Latin America, experts noted at the Latin American Conference on Journalism in Science and Health held in Ciudad de Mexico.
Executive Director of Global Policy of MSD Latin America, Laura Dachner (i), CEO of Global Policy of MSD Latin America, Leonardo Semprún (c) and executive director of the Latin American Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry (Fifarma). , Yaneth Giha, participated in the 21st Latin American Seminar on Journalism in Science and Health, on August 21, 2024 in Mexico City (Mexico). EFE/José Méndez
“I think that more and more I see that all or most of us are convinced that there is no problem in Latin America in the health sector that can be solved by one actor,” said Yaneth Giha, executive director of the Latin American Federation. of the Pharmaceutical Industry (FIFARMA).
Giha said that the various challenges facing the region can only be addressed if there is unity between the communities and the private sector, civil society, patient groups, governments and all the actors involved.
In agreement, Leonardo Semprun, MSD’s director general of the Global Strategy for Latin America, showed that one of the lessons left by the pandemic-19 is the importance of cooperation in the region.
“The pandemic shows us that we are connected and that we are one,” he said.
Meanwhile, Laura Dachner, director of Social Policies at MSD Latam and leader of the committee, pointed out that “collaboration between different sectors is essential to overcome barriers in health reform and achieve an efficient and fair system, where the media also play a role important. reporting accurately and objectively.”
Health in Latin America: strategic plans are key
Semprun remembers that regulatory systems are an important part of all health systems, as they carry out monitoring activities to ensure the quality, effectiveness and safety of health technologies, drugs, vaccines, blood products and devices medical
This importance is evident during the Covid-19 public health emergency, where, for example, approval of vaccines is urgently needed.
For this, Reliance promoted, the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (OPS) as a mechanism for National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to better manage energy resource issues and, at the same time, strengthen regulatory systems.
According to FIFARMA, Reliability is the act by which NRAs of jurisdiction can take into account and give special weight to the assessments made by another NRA or a trusted company, or any authorized source of information, to make their own decisions. .
These regulations are not only seeking to increase the resources and capabilities of the NRAs, but also to guarantee the safety, effectiveness and quality of medical products.
“Today (Reliance) stands for truth in the community,” Semprun said.
This practice, he added, helps, among other things, for the regulatory agencies to work with each other, for the procedures to be easier, in the evolution of trust and in times of access to the recommended drugs.
“This positively affects the whole process,” he mentioned.
Availability and approval times of innovative treatments
In this regard, Giha presented the results of the WAIT (Waiting to Access Innovative Treatments) Index 2023 study for Latin America, which analyzed the availability and approval times of 228 new treatments as they were approved by regulatory agencies the American government (FDA) and the European Union (EMA) until they come to improve the health of patients in eight Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.
The analysis shows differences in the access of Latin American patients to medicines, showing that the average waiting time from FDA approval to effective availability for patients in the region ranges from 1.9 to more than 4. 5 years.
Currently, it is estimated that a new cancer treatment that received regulatory approval in the United States in February 2024, for example, may be available for Latin American patients in the second half of 2028.
EFE was supported by MSD for the preparation of this document.