BOLIVIA-ONU

On August 20, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the State Agency for Medicines and Health Technologies (AGEMED) of Bolivia began a process to evaluate the the regulatory authority’s mechanisms and capabilities. Using the Global Assessment Tool (GBT), a global instrument of the World Health Organization (WHO) which applies to all National Regulatory Authorities for Medicines (ARNM) they were able to commence an assisted analysis of national regulatory systems commensurate with the recommendations implemented at the global level to identify regulatory strengths and gaps. The idea is to improve the capabilities of the regulatory agency when it comes to implementing the application, in the medium term, of the Universal Health Coverage in the country. 

This regulatory process arises within the framework of the implementation of the Universal Health System in Bolivia, which seeks to accelerate the progress of essential health services, including the protection of financial risks and access to safe, quality, effective and affordable medicines and vaccines for all. The director of AGEMED, Patricia Tames, revealed the importance of a tool such as the GBT for performance evaluation, as well as the impact of ARN on the quality of medicines in Bolivia. 

The AGEMED hopes to advance the implementation of these guidelines for Bolivia’s regulatory process during the High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage to be held at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on September 23. Under the title “Universal Health Coverage: Moving Forward Together to Build a Healthier World,” the UN event will bring together heads of state, political and health leaders, policy makers and advocates for universal health coverage to advocate for health for all.