Generic medications: Congress proposes mandatory sale

Within the provisions, establishments must offer similar alternatives to other medications

The congressman Wilson Rusbel Quispe Mamanifrom the Peru Libre party, presented a bill that seeks to promote the mandatory sale of generic drugs to guarantee the right to health in the national territory.

The main objective of the initiative is to promote the sale of generic medicines, pharmaceutical products, biologicals and medical devices in pharmaceutical establishments.

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It also establishes that public pharmacy services must maintain a minimum stock 50% of generic drugsas well as minimum reserves of pharmaceutical products essentialaccording to their level of complexity and the population in general.

The National Health Authority (ANS) will be responsible for applying the limitations and exceptions provided for in the Agreement on Aspects of Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)its amendments and the Doha Declaration.

Congress establishes obligations for pharmacies

Furthermore, the Pharmaceutical chemist is responsible for dispensing medications and providing information and guidance to the user regarding their administration, use and dosage, as well as possible interactions with other medications, adverse reactions and storage conditions. Likewise, it must offer generic drug alternatives defined according to their International Common Denomination.

The bill argues that it is common for citizens, when going to a pharmacy or pharmacy, to only find brand name medications at high prices, which could violate access and guarantee of the right to health.