PERU

Following the World Health Organization’s recommendations concerning drug market transparency, the Peruvian Ministry of Health (Minsa) released a statement on June 7 encouraging greater use of The Observatory of Drug Prices which answer to the General Directorate of Medicines, Supplies and Drugs (Digemid). This digital platform compiles information about high quality, safe and effective medicines at the most reasonable prices and where to buy them.

Users can filter the information on the platform by region, province and district, allowing them to locate the public or private pharmacies stocking medicines and order the prices published from from lowest to highest.

Stocks and pricing information is periodically updated by the pharmacies, so if a price for an item is different from the one quoted on the website, the user has the right to record this in the Pharmaceutical Establishments’ Complaints Book.

On May 28, the World Health Organization adopted a resolution to improve market transparency for medicines, vaccines, research and development costs, clinical trial data and patent information. The measure is intended to help WHO member states make more informed decisions when purchasing medical devices and push for a greater public exchange of information on the real prices paid by governments and other purchasers for medical devices.

Meanwhile, in Chile, Health Minister Jaime Mañalich, declared that medicines bought locally are “extraordinarily expensive,” and announced a drive to slash prices, including a tender launched by the National Health Fund (FONASA) and the management of drugs purchases by the National Supply Center (CENABAST).