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Edition nº
Portugal and China extend memorandum
of understanding
Portugal and China signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the collaboration that has been stated over the past few years. The two countries - through the INFARMED and National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (regulatory bodies for food and medicines) – have already signed an agreement in 2012, which focuses mainly on the laboratory area. This agreement was now extended in order to include the assessment of generic medicines and medical devices.
The implementation of a good practices system and the exchange of scientific information will be other areas included in this protocol.
During the meeting, which took place between 6th and 7th June, issues such as the regulatory framework for medical devices and medicinal products in Europe have been addressed. A visit to the laboratory and an evaluation of its framework has also been undertaken by INFARMED.
Portugal supports the implementation
of a health technology assessment in Greece
A team of experts from INFARMED travelled to Athens between the 1st and 2nd of June in order to support the implementation of a health technology assessment system in Greece, so far never implemented in the Country. This measure is part of the memorandum of understanding, signed between the country and the troika.
The World Health Organization is actively participating in this process, helping Greece to take specific measures for the health system imposed by the European Commission. INFARMED was invited to help Greece make the necessary legislative changes in this area.
During these two days of work, the initial proposal from Greece was analysed and adjusted to respond to the needs of this assessment.
More than 460 thousand units
of illegal medicines were seized
More than 460 thousand units of drugs were retained, returned or destroyed in 2016, under the collaboration protocol between Infarmed and the competent Tax and Customs Office – Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira.
In 2016, 460 936 units were seized, 24 250 of which under the international operation Pangea. There was a greater percentage of products that have been destroyed, which rose from 7.2% to 11% of the total units in a year. These medicinal products are of higher risk, falsified or suspected of forgery, therefore the quality, efficacy and safety are not guaranteed.
Over the last five years, the Infarmed’s Laboratory analysed 315 products suspected of tampering and/or forgery that were intercepted, 62% of which were considered illegal drugs.
This balance on the illegal circuit of drugs (and not the legal, which involves the pharmacies) is once again an alert on the need to stick the online shopping to sites authorized by Infarmed.
INFARMED in working group to encourage
Development of the pharmaceutical industry
The INFARMED will participate in the Working Group for the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Portugal, which has a main goal the mission to reinforce a favourable environment for research, innovation and production in the country and, particularly, the competitiveness and development of the pharmaceutical industry.
The group created on the 1st of June will gather together experts from the pharmaceutical industry and members of the SNS, among them experts from the INFARMED and Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS).
This group of ten members will be coordinated by a Government representative from the health area, and simultaneously a representative from the economy area. The logistical support for these activities will be ensured by INFARMED and the Directory -General for Economic Activities.
INFARMED participated in the World Health Organization
Health policy evaluation of the Country
INFARMED recently joined a working group coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), which aimed to evaluate the national health policies.
This external evaluation, which took about six months, was requested by the Ministry of Health. The results, mostly focused on policies related to primary and hospital health care were discussed at a press conference in INFARMED, on May 30th.
INFARMED – Autoridade Nacional do Medicamento e Produtos de Saúde, I.P.
Parque de Saúde de Lisboa - Avenida do Brasil, 53, 1749-004 Lisboa - Portugal
Telef: +351 217 987 100 | Fax: +351 217 987 316 | E-mail: Infarmed@Infarmed.pt