The National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima) warned this Thursday that 16 of the 56 medicines declared vital not available (they do not require sanitary registration to be manufactured or imported as they are essential for people’s health) for the care of patients with covid-19 are at risk of shortages.
“Due to the progressive demand for drugs for the care of patients suffering from covid-19 and the increase in the occupation of intensive care units (ICU) in the country, Invima identified 105 active ingredients of first and second line drugs that They can be used in patients with associated symptoms and complications and permanently monitor their availability ”, indicated the entity.
Although these drugs are not specific for treating the virus, as the world has not yet found a direct drug, they are used to manage symptoms or counteract organic alterations derived from infection with the new coronavirus. Others are anesthetics, relaxants, and adjuvants in interventions and procedures during care.
Specifically, these are the medications that could be out of supply:
- Fentanyl solution for injection.
- Rocuronium bromide solution for injection.
- Midazolam solution for injection.
- Vecuronium bromide solution for injection.
- Remifentanil solution for injection.
- Atracurium besylate solution for injection.
- Atropine sulfate solution for injection.
- Diazepam solution for injection.
- Dopamine hydrochloride solution for injection.
- Etomidate solution for injection.
- Haloperidol solution for injection.
- Ketamine solution for injection.
- Succinylcholine chloride solution for injection.
- Sodium thiopental solution for injection.
- Injectable vasopressin.
- Medicinal gases.
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Invima explains that the availability of these drugs in the country during the health emergency “It can be affected by factors such as export restrictions from countries of origin, difficulties in obtaining raw materials, transportation and finished product; as well as by contractual limitations between IPS and drug providers, among others ”.
In this sense, the health authority affirmed that to anticipate and mitigate the possible shortage, priority was given to requests for regulatory procedures and batch release, single import authorization and inclusion of drugs in the list of vital not available, to promote the manufacture or import of these.
In addition, the different owners, importers and actors in the production chain of these drugs have been contacted to ask them for information about the units available in their inventories and identification of the existence.
And likewise, work has been done with health agencies in other countries to prioritize actions that favor the timely importation of raw materials or finished products of the drugs that are required for the treatment of patients in ICU for covid-19.
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“As a health authority we have taken all measures to prevent the materialization of the risk of shortages of these drugs that have been identified as essential in the management of patients in critical care during emergencies,” said the director of Invima, Julio César Aldana.
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