Photo: Invima.
BOGOTA, June 19 (RHC) – Health regulators from Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba and Mexico are discussing the challenges to achieve regulatory convergence in the region, the National Institute for Food and Drug Control – Invima confirmed on Monday.
According to the Colombian organization, at the meeting last Thursday and Friday, participants also discussed the need to promote strategies that ensure access to medicines and medical equipment and promote spaces for international integration and cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“This meeting reaffirms the commitments of health authorities and demonstrates the will to promote strategies to protect public health and life,” said Mariela Pardo Corredor, Director of Invima.
He added that the further development of regulatory convergence will also enable the creation of access to medicines and medical devices, ie health self-sufficiency of the region.
For his part, Leonardo Dutra, representative of Anvisa from Brazil, pointed out that for his country and the organization that runs it, “regional integration is a priority”. He reminded that diseases know no borders and therefore health authorities must work together for the benefit of citizens.
Likewise, Alejandro Svarch, Commissioner of Mexico, stated that it was necessary to invite all nations of the region to join this initiative.
In his opinion, it is important to believe in the protection of all the peoples of the continent from health risks through the technical and scientific strengthening of health regulations.
“We welcome regulatory convergence with the belief that we must fight against indifference and inequality that have been dimming the light of our regional solidarity for many years,” he said.
The meeting in this capital resulted in the document of the Bogotá meeting, which was signed by the representatives of the participating countries.
In the text, they propose to work together on the creation of the regional school of sanitation regulation, which will make it possible to support the scientific and technical strengthening of the capacities of regulators of sanitation regulation.
Also, form working groups that will allow identifying priorities for building regulatory confidence in the region.
And finally, you share the reflections of the Bogotá meeting at the meeting of national regulators with a regional dimension that will take place on July 11th and 12th in Washington.
Diplomatic representatives of the countries participating in the dialogue also attended the conclusion of the Bogotá meeting. (Spring: Latin Press).