The Deputy Minister of Health, Manuel Zambrano Chambi, announced important changes in the protocol for purchasing and registering medicines in Panama, and one will be that medicines certified by international agencies such as the FDA of the United States or the EMA of Europe can be automatically registered in Panama, provided that they comply with the required documentation and certifications.

“It will not be necessary to repeat local certification processes, which will reduce time and facilitate the entry of new drugs and molecules into the Panamanian market,” Zambrano explained.

He explained that these reforms seek to guarantee more efficient and economical access to medicines, in addition to positioning the country as a regional center of pharmaceutical distribution.

The Deputy Minister stressed that one of the main objectives of the Ministry of Health (Minsa) is to ensure that medicines are available at affordable costs for patients. “It’s no use having medicines that the population can’t afford. Our priority is that they are accessible and that they reach those who need them,” he said.

Likewise, a new supply control and monitoring system called SALMI will be implemented, which will keep information on availability and prices of medicines updated in real time.

According to Zambrano, this will help anticipate and solve possible shortages, in addition to strengthening compliance with regulated prices in coordination with the Consumer Protection and Competition Protection Authority (ACODECO).

Another long-term objective is to turn Panama into a pharmaceutical distribution center for the region. “We are considering this possibility, which will imply ensuring that medicines are accessible and competitive for everyone,” Zambrano said.