Mexico, Colombia and Cuba Formalize Talks On New Latin American Regulator

Cofepris, Invima and Cecmed, the medicine regulators in Mexico, Colombia and Cuba respectively, have signed a declaration to formalize talks on creating a new regional medicines regulator for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Acapulco Declaration represents a “major milestone” in the journey to establish the agency, make the region more self-sufficient in health care and bring safe, effective and quality medicines more swiftly to patients, said Alejandro Svarch Pérez, director of Cofepris.

The declaration was signed in Acapulco, Mexico, on 26 April and follows proposals made earlier this year on creating a new regulator that would work towards achieving: regulatory convergence and mutual recognition, stimulating R&D; support local production; and exploring procurement mechanisms to guarantee sustainable access and financing