NewsWhore
02-10-2009, 01:30 PM
Despite yesterday's announcement that the Ministry of Public Health would close 23 pharmacies and distributors tied to the sale and distribution of counterfeit medicines, only six establishments have the seals that indicate their closure. According to a list the Ministry showed the press, formal closure orders were requested for 19 businesses, but three were denied for lack of evidence, five were pending and of the eleven remaining, only six were actually closed.
The magistrates denied the request to close the Sanchez, Matilde and Rosa Maria pharmacies, saying they needed more evidence of their involvement in the counterfeiting business. Among those that have been closed are: Distribuidora Garcia, Distribuidora Ninoska, Distribuidora C & N, Distribuidora Vendifarma, Distribuidora DLS y Suplimari.
Meanwhile, the issue of the illegal sale of adulterated pharmaceuticals continues to be debated. It was first brought into the spotlight by TV journalist who traced two recent deaths to patients having been administered fake anti-tetanus injections at public hospitals.
The head of the Department of Drugs and Pharmacies, Maria Villa, reported that from January 2007 until February 2009 close to 92% of all the registered establishments in the country had been inspected as part of their efforts to control the sale of illegal or adulterated pharmaceuticals. Regardless, she said that over a two-year period, more than 100 complaints were filed with the Justice Department concerning irregularities in the sale of medicines, cosmetics, personal hygiene products and home care products. These were 30 pharmacies, 27 popular distribution points, 36 warehouses and distribution centers.
El Caribe reports that the government-sponsored Essential Medicines Program (Promese) stated that before medicines can be sold in pharmacies, there is a process of verification where professional pharmacologists and doctors need to verify the composition of each medicine. A spokesperson said that Promese only supplies 40% of the public hospitals' pharmaceutical needs since it does not have the capacity to supply them 100%.
The Executive Commission for the Reform of the Health Sector (CERSS) has offered to mediate by opening a dialogue between health officials and the sectors that intervene in the pharmaceutical industry in order to work towards improved regulation of the pharmaceutical market.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)
The magistrates denied the request to close the Sanchez, Matilde and Rosa Maria pharmacies, saying they needed more evidence of their involvement in the counterfeiting business. Among those that have been closed are: Distribuidora Garcia, Distribuidora Ninoska, Distribuidora C & N, Distribuidora Vendifarma, Distribuidora DLS y Suplimari.
Meanwhile, the issue of the illegal sale of adulterated pharmaceuticals continues to be debated. It was first brought into the spotlight by TV journalist who traced two recent deaths to patients having been administered fake anti-tetanus injections at public hospitals.
The head of the Department of Drugs and Pharmacies, Maria Villa, reported that from January 2007 until February 2009 close to 92% of all the registered establishments in the country had been inspected as part of their efforts to control the sale of illegal or adulterated pharmaceuticals. Regardless, she said that over a two-year period, more than 100 complaints were filed with the Justice Department concerning irregularities in the sale of medicines, cosmetics, personal hygiene products and home care products. These were 30 pharmacies, 27 popular distribution points, 36 warehouses and distribution centers.
El Caribe reports that the government-sponsored Essential Medicines Program (Promese) stated that before medicines can be sold in pharmacies, there is a process of verification where professional pharmacologists and doctors need to verify the composition of each medicine. A spokesperson said that Promese only supplies 40% of the public hospitals' pharmaceutical needs since it does not have the capacity to supply them 100%.
The Executive Commission for the Reform of the Health Sector (CERSS) has offered to mediate by opening a dialogue between health officials and the sectors that intervene in the pharmaceutical industry in order to work towards improved regulation of the pharmaceutical market.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)