El Salvador receives experts from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for the process of reevaluation of the country’s Pharmaceutical Regulatory System, within the framework of the certification process, whose objective is to reach Level IV, granted by this international organization.
This evaluation is carried out from July 17 to 20 at the facilities of the National Directorate of Medicines (DNM). In this stage, the modules referring to the National Pharmacovigilance System, integrated by the MINSAL and the DNM, are evaluated.

Among the appointed evaluators is Dr. José Peña, leader of the evaluation team, Dr. Ariel Arias, pharmacovigilance expert of Health Canada and Dr. Murilo Freitas, regional advisor of PAHO. At the opening ceremony were present the heads of the two institutions involved, Dr. Violeta Menjívar, Minister of Health, Dr. Julio Robles Ticas, Deputy Minister of Health Services, Dr. Leonor Morales de Acosta, National Director of Drugs and Dr. Hilda Leal, health services systems consultant for OPS, El Salvador.

For Dr. Menjívar this is a transcendental step in the development of the country and considers that a strong regulatory authority also strengthens the national pharmaceutical industry, guaranteeing the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines and giving it international prestige.

Dr. De Acosta expressed that: “Strengthening as a health agency has been possible thanks to the decided support of the Government of the Republic through President Salvador Sánchez Cerén, and also to the accompaniment by the holders of the Ministry of Health who have placed pharmaceutical regulation as a priority issue in the country’s agenda “.

The head of the National Directorate of Medicines also thanked the support that other countries have given El Salvador, to strengthen its regulatory powers, including: Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, among others.

“The horizon of all our actions is the health of the population, guaranteeing safe, effective, quality medicines at a fair price” and “we are ready for the re-evaluation of the Regulatory System” concluded Dr. de Acosta.
More information through the link in Spanish http://www.medicamentos.gob.sv/index.php/es/secciones-m/noticias-dnm/269-proceso-de-reevaluacion