With the aim of reducing dependence on the outside world in the health sector, the 33 members from Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) approved this Saturday in Mexico the guidelines for a health self-sufficiency plan for the region.
The COVID-19 pandemic made evident the limitations of the bloc countries for the supply of vaccines and medicines, and tested the health systems weaknesses, inequality in access to universal primary care and the lack of anticipatory planning.
Besides, the chronic lack of research funding and technological development and weak industrial policies prevented the development of existing capacities to produce vaccines in a timely manner and build a scale market for drugs.
In this scenario, the Economic Commission of Latin America (ECLAC) brought together a group of experts from the region to develop a guide and recommend short, medium and long term strategies, and identify strategic actors and institutions that promote self-sufficiency in the field of health.
The result is the proposed plan adopted unanimously at the VI Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC, held in the Mexican capital, which was attended by presidents, vice-presidents and ministers of the group’s nations.
UN Mexico / Gabriela Ramirez
Mexico vaccinates against COVID-19 for adults between 50 and 59 years old.
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Collective response to common challenges
The General secretary of the United Nations, António Guterres, participated in the conclave through a video message in which he affirmed that in the face of common challenges, a collective response is necessary and proposals for multilateral solutions.
“With today’s summit, the leaders of the region demonstrate their commitment to the renewal of CELAC as a space for strengthening the regional cooperation. The United Nations contributes to this aspiration through the health self-sufficiency plan, whose objective is the development, expansion and strengthening of the regional production of vaccines and medicines, ”said António Guterres.
When presenting the project, the head of ECLAC explained that it is not limited to the health field, but also diagnoses the challenges of the region in the economic, social and productive spheres.
UNICEF / Jose Vilca
Elderly people waiting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Lima, Peru.
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Lack of solidarity
Alicia Bárcena, highlighted the lack of international solidarity and the little support from developed countries for the COVAX mechanism, whose purpose is the equitable distribution of vaccines against COVID-19.
Likewise, he pointed out that the region’s participation in clinical trials by international laboratories was not reflected in its access to vaccines and, as proof, he mentioned that Latin America and the Caribbean it will not be able to immunize 80% of its population this year.
This is why universal primary care systems are required in the region, stressed the executive secretary of ECLAC.
“Urge one strategic coordination between the health, economy, industry and finance sectors in the region. It is imperative to promote development and coordination between regulatory systems and a vision of regional and subregional integration is required to guarantee greater productive autonomy and universal access to vaccines, “he said.
On the other hand, he asserted that, with all its limitations, the regional pharmaceutical industry is important since it produces, creates quality jobs with good salaries and gender equality, and encourages dissemination of knowledge.
Bárcena regretted that large pharmaceutical companies are leaders of technological change in the region only represent 8% of the sector.
Furthermore, he explained that the participation of Latin America and the Caribbean in world exports of pharmaceutical products was barely 0.7% in 2020, while the 87% of drug imports came from outside the region.
Unsplash/Ivan Diaz
COVID-19 vaccines are essential to ending the pandemic, but they are not the only tool.
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The plan
The final purpose of the health self-sufficiency plan for Latin America and the Caribbean is to development, expansion and competitive strengthening of the research, development and production capacities of vaccines and medicines at the regional level.
For it, three goals specific:
- secure a market large-scale stable
- that gives clear signals and security to companies to to invest
- incentivize and facilitate research and the development of innovative projects, and supporting local production and integration in regional production chains.
Faced with the urgency posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fragile situation of international access to vaccines and the slow progress of immunization processes in most countries, the plan adds the goal of speed up vaccination processes by improving international access to vaccines and facilitating internal inoculation processes.
Alicia Bárcena maintained that the spirit of the health self-sufficiency plan and its initiatives are of regional scope and, consequently, it proposes lines of action for its regional or subregional implementation.
“Although a plan of this nature requires the strengthening of capacities within each country, which is why the importance of national policies is recognized, its focus is not on national proposals, but rather on the cooperation and integration regional ”, concluded the head of ECLAC, the body in charge of implementing the plan.
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