Source: https://www.moh.gov.jm/9th-annual-national-health-research-conference-2018/ 

A total of 152 profiles were eliminated by the social network Facebook, Inc., for advertising and marketing products that violate Colombian laws and regulations putting the health of the consuming population at risk.

This measure was achieved thanks to a request sent by the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (INVIMA) in which concerns are expressed about these ads for products that lack the sanitary registration or health permit required, offer unauthorized benefits and virtues. therapies that deceive consumers.

Within the URLs removed are products to “burn fat” and achieve weight loss, the brand Ultrasbelt – U.USB with different commercial presentations and marketing in several cities in Colombia.

Also, products of the brand XIBION, Eurofit and Ultra ZX, Nitro Fit, Airt Fit, Green Tea, Sundown Naturals, Ghee Butter, Blue Energy, among others. All were offered with quick and easy results to “burn fat and lose weight”.

For more information go to https://www.invima.gov.co/por-solicitud-de-invima,-facebook-elimina-152-perfiles-que-anunciaban-y-comercializaban-productos-enga%C3%B1osos-en-colombia

The Minister of Health, Emilio Santelices, together with the representative of WHO in Chile, Paloma Cuchí and the Director (s) of the Institute of Public Health (ISP), Judith Mora, were in charge of opening the 7th Global Meeting on Vaccine Safety, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), which included the participation of the ISP.

The event involved around 100 attendees, from more than 40 countries representing immunization programs and regulatory authorities, whose main objective is to develop, update and competencies in pharmacovigilance of vaccines that allow access to safe vaccines in each of the member countries.

The purpose of the meeting was to interact and exchange information on the progress of the last year in the implementation of the national and global pharmacovigilance of vaccines.

More information by the link http://www.ispch.cl/noticia/27323

PAHO video production in commemoration of the 40 years of Alma-Ata

• More information 56th Directing Council of PAHO

With the participation of more than 80 representatives of Advertising Agencies, Law Firms and Pharmaceutical Houses, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) held an important discussion on Resolution No. 1293, of June 20, 2018, which approves the Internal Regulation of the Advertising and Propaganda Commission, focused on the procedures of approval of advertising and propaganda in the media for the approval or not of materials related to products, materials, equipment or services that have an impact on the health of the population of the Republic of Panama.

For more information go to : http://www.minsa.gob.pa/noticia/discuten-aspectos-de-resolucion-del-minsa-para-aprobacion-de-publicidad-y-propaganda-en

Health authorities will meet from September 23 to 27 in Washington D.C, to discuss plans to reduce the shortage in health personnel, lower the burden of cervical cancer, and improve the health of women, children and adolescents. In addition to this, the President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez will be named Health Hero of the Americas.

Washington, D.C., 20 September 2018 (PAHO/WHO) – Ministers of Health and senior authorities from member countries and territories of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will meet from September 23 to 27 in Washington, D.C, United States, to establish priorities and plans to address the main health challenges faced by the Region of the Americas.

During the 56th Directing Council, health authorities of the Americas will discuss a series of plans to reduce the shortage in health personnel, lower the number of cases of, and deaths from cervical cancer, and improve the health of women, children and adolescents. They will also discuss action plans to improve vector control in order to prevent diseases such as malaria, Zika and Chagas disease.

The President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez, will be named Health Hero of the Americas, PAHO’s highest distinction, in recognition of his leadership in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, as well as for his actions to ensure tobacco control in his Uruguay, which has been an example to the world.

At the opening ceremony of the Directing Council, which will take place on Sunday 23 September, the Director of PAHO, Carissa F. Etienne, will take the floor, as will the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Néstor Méndez; the Secretary of Health of Honduras, Octavio Sánchez; and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar (to be confirmed).

On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the First International Conference on Primary Health Care, in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan in 1978, where countries committed to achieving “health for all”, the Director of PAHO will also present her annual report which, this year, focuses on primary health care.

In the framework of this, delegates will receive a preview of the report from the High-level Commission that proposes solutions to expand health access and coverage in the region of the Americas by 2030, leaving no one behind. The High-level Commission of the “Universal Health in the 21st Century: 40 Years of Alma-Ata” Regional Forum is chaired by the former President of Chile, Michelle Bachellet. A parallel event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Alma-Ata will also be held.

Health authorities will also receive a preview of a report on health inequalities in the region, which was prepared by the Commission on Equity and Health Inequalities, chaired by Sir Michael Marmot, from the Institute of Health Equity at University College London.

Various other side events will be held in parallel to the Directing Council. These include an event to discuss issues related to the elimination of trans fats, and the 40-year anniversary of the Declaration of Alma-Ata. The application of International Health Regulations (IHR), road safety, maternal mortality, climate change and bioethics, among other topics, will also be discussed.

The Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) brings together ministers of health and high-level delegates of the PAHO/WHO Member States in Washington, D.C. (USA) to discuss and analyze regional health policies and set priorities for technical cooperation and collaboration among countries.

Links

—  56th Directing Council documents
—  56th Directing Council

Source: https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14660:ministros-de-salud-de-las-americas-se-reuniran-en-la-ops-para-abordar-prioridades-de-salud-en-la-region&Itemid=1926&lang=en

Anvisa participated in a mission to train inspectors for the inspection of blood establishments in Honduras. About 30 technicians from the Health Secretariat of that country will be trained.

The international mission is comprised of two stages: a theoretical workshop (17-21 / 9) and hands-on training with visits to three Honduran blood and blood derivatives services (24-28/9).

The actions are part of the Project to Support the Strengthening of the National Blood and Hemodynamic System in Honduras, which includes Anvisa, the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Hemoderivative and Biotechnology Company (Hemobrás). The initiative will contribute to the process of structuring Honduran services and strengthening the area of ​​health surveillance of blood products in that country.

For Anvisa, this kind of technical cooperation is important because it reinforces the agency’s role as a model and reference in the area of ​​blood and blood products in Latin America, as well as contributing to the consolidation of health actions in other countries, especially Latin American countries.

The opening of the first phase of the training was attended by the Brazilian ambassador to Honduras, Breno Diaz da Costa, and the Embassy’s minister-counselor Francisco Resende, as well as regulatory expert Christiane Costa, Anvisa. Also present at the opening ceremony were a representative of the Sanitary Vigilance of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Dias, and a representative of the Hemocentro Foundation of Ribeirão Preto (SP), Ana Paula Zanelli.

Source: https://prais.paho.org/es/anvisa-capacita-tecnicos-da-hemorrede-de-honduras/

From September 18 to 20, ANMAT is attending at the International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF), in the city of Beijing, People’s Republic of China. In this context, the Administration was distinguished to represent the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) to present the work and the regulatory updates, regarding the aforementioned products, in the Americas region.

For more information go to https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/anmat-participa-en-importante-foro-internacional-sobre-dispositivos-medicos

The Institute of Public Health of Chile (ISP), together with the Ministry of Health of Chile and the Pan American Health Organization PAHO/WHO are organizing the XV International Meeting of Pharmacovigilance of the Americas. The event will be held on October 11th and 12th, 2018.

This event is an open call that brings together: the regulatory agencies of the Americas region, PAHO/WHO, health professionals, healthcare centers, the academy and the pharmaceutical industry, with the objective of discussing mainly, issues related to pharmacovigilance, safety and rational use of medicines. The realization of these annual meetings, have generated great impact on drug safety issues, allowing the strengthening of pharmacovigilance activities in the countries of the region. The first eight versions of these meetings took place in Colombia. Since 2012, this event has rotated through different countries of the region, including: Brazil, Peru and Panama. This year and for the first time, Chile was chosen to host this important meeting, a unique instance to listen to important pharmacovigilance experts.

For more information go to http://www.ispch.cl/encuentrofarmacovigilancia_en/presentacion

The Minister of Health, Dr. Giselle Amador, received the final recommendations from the special mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The recommendations were presented by Mr. Ahmad Al Khatibeh, Head of the Delegation, advisor, of the Department of Technological Safety and Nuclear Safety.

The work visit was at the request of the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica, to the IAEA, with the intention of strengthening its role as regulatory authority in radiological safety. The 3 days of work included an integrated review of the regulatory framework for the advice process and delivery of recommendations.

For more information go to https://www.ministeriodesalud.go.cr/index.php/noticias/noticias-2018/1329-organismo-internacional-de-energia