The new Law of Medications has been approved for the purpose of providing a more meticulous examination of quality control and price establishment for medicines. This Law is intended to lower prices for medications so as to make them more affordable. El Salvador is currently considered one of the countries with most expensive medication worldwide. The new reference prices on medications will be set according to the prices of Central America and Panama.

One of the  main changes that this Law makes to the current system is the creation of an independent entity that would be known as “General Directorate of Medications”, an entity to be formed by representatives from the Presidency of the Republic, the Health Ministry, Economy and State, the National University of El Salvador, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Institute of Social Security and Private Universities, and that will be authorized to supervise activities in the chain of production -such as imports, merchandizing, prescription and distribution of medications. This institution will also supervise the classification of medicines that require prescription; as well as for the over- the-counter medications. It will also guard the compliance of ethical practices regarding publicity.

Another purpose of this Law, is to improve the time frames that are established for certification of manufacture used by the laboratories and to establish effective sanctions for those who don’t obey the law on this matter.

In the near future we will be informing you about the development of this new legal body, the compliance with the objectives and the emission of the regulation that will allow fulfillment of said Law.