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Loading ...Brazil Producing Generic Version of Tamiflu
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009Synopsis in English: Brazil’s Pharmaceutical Technology Institute (commonly known by its old name, Farmanguinhos), a subsidiary of the state-run public health entity Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (“Fiocruz“), has started producing capsules of oseltamivir phosphate, the generic version of the marketed by pharma multinational Roche as Tamiflu, for distribution by the Health Ministry (MS) to reference hospitals […]
A New Initiative on Chagas / Nova iniciativa sobre Doença de Chagas
Saturday, July 11th, 2009From Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi): Forgotten and with few treatment options, Chagas debilitates and kills 100 years since Chagas disease was discovered, DNDi launches an international campaign “Wake Up. Time to Treat Chagas Disease!” with a call for better medicines and treatment of patients. One hundred years after the discovery of Chagas disease, […]
The Main Causes of Accidential Poisoning in Jamaica’s Children
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009From the Ministry of Health (MOH): Bleach, Pharmaceuticals and Pesticides, main agents of accidental poisoning in children … Health Ministry warns parents and caregivers The Ministry of Health’s surveillance reports have uncovered that bleach, pharmaceuticals (medications) and pesticides are still major household health hazards accounting for majority of cases of accidental poisoning in children. According […]
New Pharmaceutical Labeling Rules Proposed in Brazil
Friday, April 10th, 2009Brazil’s National Sanitary Vigilance Agency (ANVISA) is proposing changes in package labeling rules for pharmaceuticals sold in that country (as set out in ANVISA Resolution RDC 333/03) with a view to making pack labels more informative to consumers. For example, the proposals released for public consultation (until 11 May) would make medicines with a sedative […]
An Andean Medicines Policy
Sunday, March 29th, 2009Last Friday the 30th Meeting of the Health Ministers of the Andean Area (RMSAA) agreed on other important health measures — a coordinated epidemiological surveillance system, joint plans to combat HIV/AIDS, protect health in border areas and to combat child malnutrition — but the one that caught my eye was the new Andean Medicines Policy. […]
DR & Central America Agree on Common Health, Pharma Policies/Programs
Saturday, January 31st, 2009It doesn’t get much attention outside this corner of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), but the annual Meeting of the Health Sector of Central America and the Dominican Republic (Reunión del Sector Salud de Centro América y República Dominicana – RESSCAD) is quietly doing important work to change health policy among its seven member […]
Cuba to Help Argentina Produce Cancer, Antiretroviral Drugs
Thursday, January 29th, 2009Argentina’s Health Minister Graciela Ocaña has just signed an agreement with Cuba where the latter will aid the former in researching and producing antiretroviral medicines (ARVs), cancer drugs, vaccines and other treatments for diseases prevalent in Argentina. Last year, shortly after assuming her post, Ocaña established the Program for the Public Production of Medicines, Vaccines […]
Fiocruz Gets Green Light to Produce AIDS Medicine Under Compulsory License
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009Brazil’s National Sanitary Vigilance Agency (ANVISA) has authorized the Pharmaceutical Technology Institute (“Farmanguinhos“) of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (“Fiocruz“) to begin producing the antiretriviral drug Efavirenz. About 80,000 Brazilian HIV-positive patients currently receive the drug through the National Program on Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and AIDS. To refresh memories, Efavirenz is the AIDS drug for which […]
Gates Foundation Funds WHO/UNICEF Research on Children’s Medicines
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009From the World Health Organization (WHO): WHO receives funds for children’s medicines research with UNICEF US$ 9.7 million grant from Gates Foundation to help crucial research on children’s medicines WHO has received US$ 9.7 million in grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to work with UNICEF to conduct crucial research in children’s medicines, […]
MERCOSUR Adopts Guidelines on Promotion, Advertising & Marketing of Pharmaceuticals
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008I’ve said here many times that Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations tend to take seriously the recommendations, guidelines and other soft norms of the World Health Organization (WHO) on any issue involving public health and/or the environment, and I’ve tried to provide a few examples where WHO work has translated into national laws and […]