The need to guarantee equitable access to medical products such as vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean has been highlighted by the director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jarbas Barbosaduring an intervention in Washington, United States. According to Barbosa, approximately 90% of these products in the region are imported, which creates significant dependency and vulnerability to changes in the global pharmaceutical market.
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He PAHO director emphasized that one of the most important mistakes of the public health system during the pandemic of COVID-19 was the failure to ensure equitable access to vaccines, medicines, and personal protective equipment. As a result, Barbosa stressed the importance of being better prepared for future pandemics and reducing dependence on imports, promoting the production of medicines and technologies at the regional level.
Barbosa added the creation of the Regional Platform on Access and Innovation for Health Technologies last year, led by the OPSwhich seeks to facilitate the transfer of technology and the production of messenger RNA vaccines in countries such as Brazil and Argentina. This initiative will benefit all the countries of the region through the PAHO Revolving Fund, it will need equitable access to vaccines.
The PAHO director will also improve the adjustments made in the institution to improve the current priorities of the countries. A new department was created focused on innovation and access to medicines and health technologiesfocusing on regulatory aspects and on the Regional Platform on Access and Innovation for Health Technologies.
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Barbosa expressed his support for an agreement to counter new pandemics that is being discussed at the World Health Organization (WHO) and that could be approved next year. He considered that this instrument would be essential to guarantee global access to vaccines and medical products, and he promised to support the countries of the region to actively participate in the debate.
The PAHO director stressed the importance of translating the lessons learned from the pandemic COVID-19 in this new instrument for pandemics in 2024, noting that otherwise, it will have to wait until the next crisis. In addition, he emphasized the need for an equitable distribution of WHO’s resources among the different regions of the world.
The intervention of Jarbas Barbosa highlights the urgency of strengthening autonomy and production capacity in Latin America and the caribbean in terms of medical products, as well as the importance of promoting equitable access globally. These actions are essential to be prepared for future pandemics and improve the health of the population in the region.
2023-06-08 17:38:15
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