The 44th Mercosur regional health summit held in Bariloche, Argentina, concluded on June 14, with a commitment to work together on negotiating prices for high-cost drugs and on guaranteeing improved vaccination levels throughout the Americas. These discussions are billed to continue at the next meeting scheduled in six months’ time in Brazil, the country next in line to preside the bloc after incumbent Argentina.

At the summit, the Mercosur Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of High Cost Medicines presented a report on the current situation of joint medicine purchasing. The agreement seeks to level the playing field as regards demand in the region so that the purchase prices of high-value products can be unified. Although the document has not yet been finalized for publication, the negotiations led to reductions ranging between a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 80% depending on the country. Ministers also reviewed the results of the third round of negotiations on high-cost cancer and hepatitis C drugs, and also negotiated prices and availability of the breast cancer treatment drug Trastuzumab.

The eight signatory countries – Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay – issued a joint declaration calling for policies to be drawn up to prevent immune preventable diseases, and ensure adequate vaccination coverage to forestall their re-emergence in member countries. The creation of a Regional Price Bank which would establish reference prices for drugs with higher litigation levels was also discussed.