[e-drug] Generic drug policies in Latin America

[e-drug@healthnet.org]

E-DRUG: Generic drug policies in Latin America
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[PAHO announcement of a new Worldbank publication on generic drug policies in Latin America; looks interesting! WB]

GENERIC DRUG POLICIES IN LATIN AMERICA

Núria Homedes , Associate Professor, University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health, El Paso, TX, USA
Roberto López Linares, Coordinator for Latin America, Health Action International
Antonio Ugalde,  Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

Discussion Paper Series is produced by the Health, Nutrition, and Population Family (HNP)
World Bank?s Human Development Network.- March 2005

Available online as PDF file [52p., 730 KBytes] at: 
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/HEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/Resources/281627-1095698140167/HomedesGenericDrugFinal.pdf 

??..The World Health Organization and pharmaceutical experts have recommended that Generic Drug Policies be implemented to improve the availability of affordable medicines. This document reports on the status of generic drug policies in Latin America. The data presented are based on several sources: a survey conducted in 2003, archival information, and official health and pharmaceutical policy documents. The survey revealed that countries use different definitions for the terms ?generic and bioequivalence? severely curtailing the ability to make comparisons across countries. 

There is also ample variability in the periods allowed for drug registration and registration charges. Although most countries in the region are becoming increasingly dependent on pharmaceutical imports, many have sizeable local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. The need to adopt common definitions for technical terms, the urgency of improving quality controls and the importance of strengthening generic drug programs are highlighted?..?