In June ----, Astellas established Astellas Farma Colombia, a new affiliate with operations headquartered in Bogota. Colombia joins Astellas Farma Brasil as the company s second affiliate in Latin America. Sandra Cifuentes has been appointed general manager of the affiliate. In May ----, a group of -- House Democrats in the US sent a letter to US Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman asking that the Obama administration clarifies its position on compulsory licensing for generic medicines in Colombia. In April ----, Colombia s Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria had announced that the government will issue a Declaration of Public Interest, which will provide a legal pathway for a compulsory licence for Novartis oncology drug Gleevec (imatinib) in Colombia. ...In May ----, a group of -- House Democrats in the US sent a letter to US Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman asking that the Obama administration clarifies its position on compulsory licensing for generic medicines in Colombia. In April ----, Colombia s Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria had announced that the government will issue a Declaration of Public Interest, which will provide a legal pathway for a compulsory licence for Novartis oncology drug Gleevec (imatinib) in Colombia.
...Counterfeit drugs continue to represent up to -- of the total marketplace and to undermine research-based and true generic sales. The regulatory system remains challenging, often opaque and overly bureaucratic. ...Large numbers of internally displaced people make healthcare provision and services more difficult to organise. Collection of social security contributions remains a serious problem, with the health insurance system recently declared on a brink of collapse. Most of the local production is dependent on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). ...Collection of social security contributions remains a serious problem, with the health insurance system recently declared on a brink of collapse. Most of the local production is dependent on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
...The high cost of modernisation to the local industry will drive continued political resistance to regulatory reform and enforcement. Government attempts to improve access to essential medicines by undermining patent standards could limit attraction to innovative drugmakers. ...
