BOLIVIA

On January 18, the government of President Luis Arce published Supreme Decree 4452, setting up the National Committee for the Monitoring of Supply, Regulation of Prices of Medicines, Medical Devices and Provision of Health Services (COMARPRE). This will establish mechanisms governing the supply, regulation and control of prices of medicines and medical devices,  based on a reference or maximum price list, to be announced by the Ministry of Health and Sports within a maximum period of up to ten business days.

This entity will be in charge of coordinating strategies and operational actions with public and private entities and setting up multidisciplinary and inter-institutional teams to monitor the marketas well as approving price regulation criteria and methodologies. COMARPRE will also be linked to the different levels of government within the framework of its powers and responsibilities.

In the likelihood of a possible shortage of medicines and medical devices, COMARPRE will coordinate with importers and national laboratories to ensure product supply and may apply sanctions in the event of infractions. It should also be noted that the president swore in Dr. Jeyson Auza as the new Minister of Health and Sports, President of the Bolivian Medical Confederation and a specialist in Social and Community Health.