[Original text in Spanish]

The National Directorate of Medicines of El Salvador (DNM) and the National Health Surveillance Agency of Brazil (ANVISA) exchange experiences on pharmacovigilance in the framework of the Bilateral Cooperation Program between El Salvador and Brazil 2017-2019.

Both Medicines Regulatory Authorities develop training among their members and the pharmaceutical industry to strengthen health surveillance and regulation. Part of these activities were developed in the facilities of the DNM, on dates of May 7 to 10, 2018.

The training program was attended by Adalton Guimarães Ribeiro, Technical Director of Pharmacovigilance and Fernanda Simioni Gasparotto, Specialist in Health Regulation and Surveillance of ANVISA.

The specialists provided technical knowledge for the sector of the pharmaceutical industry on specific topics such as: Pharmacovigilance Master File, Minimum Standard Operating Procedures for the operation of a Pharmacovigilance system in the Industry, Pharmacovigilance Inspections in the Pharmaceutical Industry, Periodic Safety Updat Report, Risk Management Plan, and Spontaneos Adverse Events Report.

For more information go to http://www.medicamentos.gob.sv/index.php/es/secciones-m/noticias-dnm/261-dnm-y-anvisa

The President of the Republic Salvador Sánchez Cerén, this day, was sworn in to Dr. Leonor Morales de Acosta as National Director of Medicine.

The swearing in took place in the Presidential House Honor Room. It should be noted that Dr. Acosta already served as Director of said autonomous interim from January to date, but with this appointment the President of the Republic makes it official in the position.
The new incumbent served for six years as Executive Director of this same institution, therefore, she has the technical and scientific knowledge, as well as the capacity and leadership to assume with responsibility the leadership of the National Directorate.

With his appointment to the position, the continuity of the projects and institutional objectives outlined is guaranteed, including the Level IV Certification, granted by the Pan American Health Organization. This certification converts the National Directorate of Drugs into a Regional Reference Regulatory Authority.

Dr. Acosta, assumes the commitment to lead this great project of the nation that seeks to continue to guarantee the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, as well as their rational use and low prices.

Source: http://www.medicamentos.gob.sv/index.php/es/secciones-m/noticias-dnm/259-juramentacion

COFEPRIS, FEUM and USP strengthen their bilateral cooperation

The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), the Pharmacopoeia of the United Mexican States (FEUM) and the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP for its acronym in English) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will contribute to the development and strengthening of a bilateral cooperation framework through the implementation of projects and activities that have a positive impact on the development of the health sector.

For more information go to https://www.gob.mx/cofepris/articulos/farmacopeas-de-mexico-y-de-eeuu-firman-memorandum-de-entendimiento-155888?idiom=es

The Pan American Health Organization cordially invites you to participate in the webinar “Traditional and Complementary Medicine in Primary Health Care; 40 years after Alma-Ata”, on May 8, 2018. Speakers will examine the role of traditional and complementary medicine in the context of the 40th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration, the PAHO Universal Health Strategy, and the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023.
The inclusion of traditional medicine is key to addressing ethnic inequities in health in the region, and it is therefore included as a central component of the intercultural approach of PAHO´s Policy of Ethnicity and Health.

DATE: May 8
TIME: 2 – 4 PM (EST)
LIVESTREAM:

• Spanish: http://bit.ly/2rfnSnD
• English: http://bit.ly/2HJFYIH

AGENDA
Opening remarks: Anna Coates, Chief, Office of Equity, Gender, and Cultural Diversity, PAHO/WHO
Moderator: Ricardo Fabrega, Regional Advisor for Integrated Health Services, Health Services and Access Unit, PAHO/WHO

PANEL

• The Role of Integrative and Complementary Practices in Primary Health Care in Brazil. Daniel Miele Amado, National Coordinator, Integrative and Complementary Practices in Health, Ministry of Health of Brazil
• The Importance of Traditional Medicine for the Ethnic Diversity of the Americas. Vivian Camacho, Indigenous rights activist, member of PAHO´s High-Level Commission for the 40th anniversary of Alma-Ata
• Integrative Health Competencies for Primary Health Care Professionals. Benjamin Kligler, National Director, Integrative Health Coordinating Center, Office of Patient-Centered Care & Cultural Transformation, Veterans Health Administration; Chair, Interprofessional Leadership Team, National Center for Integrative Primary Health Care
• Virtual Health Library in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine for the Americas: information, collaboration, and inclusion to advance towards Universal Health. Veronica Abdala, Manager of Cooperative Information Services and Production of Information Sources, BIREME/PAHO/WHO

Closing remarks: James Fitzgerald, Director, Department of Health Systems and Services, PAHO/WHO

The event is a collaboration of the Health Services and Access Unit, the Office of Equity, Gender, and Cultural Diversity, and BIREME/PAHO/WHO.

On Wednesday, April 25th, the CARPHA/Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS) recommended its first vaccine to CARICOM states for marketing authorization/import permit.

 The product, called Euvichol-Plus, is manufactured by EuBiologics Co., Ltd. of South Korea, and is intended to protect against cholera. It is a new type of cholera vaccine that is easier to deliver in challenging field conditions and is much less costly than previous alternatives.

Although cholera is often dealt with in the context of disasters, including recent outbreaks in the CARICOM state of Haiti, an effective vaccine is an important part of a comprehensive prevention package. This vaccine is prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and meets WHO’s high standards for quality, safety and efficacy.

 The CRS relied on assessment information confidentially shared by WHO, and verified documentation provided by the manufacturer to ensure it was the same product. This case demonstrates the way the CRS is facilitating access to high quality and life-saving medicines in the region.

In the context of limited human resources and financing in the many small states of CARICOM, the CRS is serving as a mechanism to  rely on trusted authorities for their reviews of products regarding safety, quality, and efficacy, and providing a regulatory channel for manufacturers to expeditiously send these same high quality products to the region.

Source: http://carpha.org/What-We-Do/Laboratory-Services-and-Networks/CRS