[e-drug] A war against generics in Colombia

["Francisco Rossi" <francisco_rossi@hotmail.com>]

E-drug: A war against generics in Colombia
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Dear friends:

In Colombia we were very happy when the pharmaceutical giants drop the case 
against South Africa court.   And are very expected about the case against
Brazil in the WTO.

But  few days ago,  the Sanitary inspectors of the  INVIMA  (Like ANMAT in
Argentina or FDA in USA) detected an important amount of counterfeit drugs, 
some of them generic drugs. And in an unexpected manner,   the information
was manipulated, partially presented and tergiversated,  and the final
result is a strong tendency  to use only brand drugs and "Originals".  For
most of doctors and  patients, generic drugs are less expensive.

It is necessary to say that  we had counterfeit og both brand and generic 
drugs. But
the information in the "media" was systematically  presented in a selective 
and interested way : "generic drugs are presenting quality problems". Note
the pretty difference: counterfeit VS Quality.

Months ago we had a discussion of this topic in e-drug and I want to repeat 
the same point of view; Quality control is a problem in developing 
countries
both for brand and generic drugs. And in the same way, is a responsibility 
of
the government.  If government cannot assure generic drugs, it cannot 
assure
brand drugs quality either. And  of course the guarantee of the producer is 
not
enough in any case.

Additionally, brand drugs industry is attacking generic drugs in a very
special way. The industrial secret protection.  They are asking the
government  to rule a  5 - 10 years protection of the Sanitary 
Authorisation
documents.  The text of the proposal prohibit to use the clinical trials 
and
pharmacological information to obtain a generic drug authorisation, and it 
will
be necessary to repeat the whole process:  the death of generics in
Colombia, I am afraid.

May be you have heard about the Colombian Health reform, and I want to tell 
you that the essential drugs concept and generic substitution are the core
policies in pharmaceuticals.  But if  doctors and patients systematically
ask for brand drugs, the financial, administrative and practical
consequences are evident..

In the next week, some institutions like PAHO/WHO, MSF, OXFAM  HAI 
Colombia,
National University, National Security Institute an others, are organising 
a
forum to point out these issues, and to make a  "Brazil solidarity day"

We hope this forum will be the beginning of a national debate.  I will tell 
you the results. The lesson learned is: one never ends to surprise. The
Pharmaceutical giants combine all fighting ways.


FRANCISCO ROSSI
Tecnical Director
National network of hospitals cooperatives of Colombia.
francisco_rossi@hotmail.com

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