The Mercosur health ministers met in Asunción, Paraguay, and on the occasion agreed on relevant decisions on central issues of the region’s public health agenda.

Among them, the signing of a declaration that promotes the strengthening and qualification of the capacities of national regulatory authorities (NRAs) to ensure the convergence and regulatory harmonization between the States Parties and Mercosur partners stands out.

On the other hand, Mercosur’s line of work on joint negotiation for the acquisition of high-priced medicines ratified what had been done so far and the ad hoc group was instructed to resume its work during the Presidency Protémpore of Uruguay.

Source: http://www.msp.gub.uy/noticia/la-salud-del-mercosur

http://www.msp.gub.uy/noticia/la-salud-del-mercosur

[Original text in Portuguese]

Food supplements will be treated as a single category of products, which will make the regulation on the subject in Brazil more lean and safe. In general, the proposal is to bring together in a single set of standards all health legislation and guidelines for manufacturers of these products.

The initiative is the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), which, along with the regulated sector and entities interested in the subject, is promoting a broad review of the current standards that must be followed by the industry.

To meet this goal, the body held six public consultations between January and April of this year to receive contributions and suggestions from companies, government, universities, consumer organizations and society in general. The main results and analyzes of the consultations were presented to approximately 120 people on Monday (11), between 9am and 5pm, in the auditorium of Anvisa, in Brasília.

At the opening of the event, the organization’s president, Jarbas Barbosa, stressed that the process of revision of the rules was intense and long, but that will bring benefits to the sector. “After living with various problems related to dietary supplements, we are now moving towards a new regulatory framework,” Barbosa said.

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In order to provide advice on self-care and safe consumption to Colombians, the National Institute for Surveillance of Drugs and Food (Invima) launches its new bulletin “Cuidamos tu Salud”.

This publication has 5 sections, designed to offer recommendations for safe consumption and alert citizens about inappropriate practices and habits of the products they use and consume on a daily basis that may affect their health.

Check the bulletin here

Source: https://www.invima.gov.co/%C2%B4cuidamos-tu-salud%C2%B4-nuevo-bolet%C3%ADn-con-recomendaciones-de-consumo-seguro.html

Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life. 14 June 2018 Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The event serves to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.

Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. It also has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and child care and during the emergency response to man-made and natural disasters.

A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. An adequate supply can only be ensured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors. However, in many countries, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety.

For more information go to https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14307&Itemid=72270&lang=en