The creation of a regional chain of health products within Mercosur was suggested by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) as a measure to reduce external dependence. Through this chain, the production of important inputs that today are only obtained by the bloc’s countries using the international market could be guaranteed. The proposal was defended by the Vice President of Production and Innovation in Health at Fiocruz, Marco Krieger, during the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee to Promote the Expansion of the Regional Productive Capacity of Medicines, Immunizations and Health Technologies. The committee was created in 2021 and is a Mercosur instance whose objective is to discuss paths for integration between the different countries of the bloc and for facing common problems related to access to medicines, vaccines and technologies. According to Fiocruz, Krieger defended a joint action, in which production did not need to be country by country, but taking advantage of the capabilities of each Member State. He also defended the mapping of opportunities for public and private laboratories, as well as deficiencies and areas where there are serious supply problems and which require specific strategies. “At the meeting, the formation of a list of strategic health products for the region was also discussed. This list should be forwarded later to the Ministers of Health to see the feasibility of research, development and production”, informed Fiocruz. The meeting took place in the last two days in Buenos Aires. Representatives from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay were present.
Agência Brasil
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