[e-drug] Ministry of Health Brazil praises new Merck's attitude (Valor Econômico)

E-DRUG: Ministry of Health Brazil praises new Merck's attitude (Valor Econômico)
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Valor Econômico
Empresas E Tecnologia, 9 SETEMBRO 2008

Ministry of Health praises new Merck's attitude

The Secretary of Science and Technology and Strategic Products of the Ministry of Health, Reinaldo Guimarães, said yesterday that he welcomes Merck's will to negotiate with the government again. Merck produces efavirenz ,the anti-Aids drug whose patent was licensed compulsorily. "In 2007, Merck appeared to be unwilling to discuss the price reduction that could avoid the Brazilian Aids Programme to become vulnerable".

The Secretary refuted criticisms done by the company regarding the government's decision. "The Ministry of Health is satisfied both with the supply and with the quality of the generic imported from India at US$ 0,46 per tablet; which is lower than the price offered by Merck at that time", he says. "They meet the orders placed by us and the quality is attested by the World Health Organization (prequalification programme)."

Guimarães declared that the government did not change its position regarding the compulsory licensing, highlighting that it may use this measure again if needed. Even acknowledging problems with the start of the local production by the public laboratories Farmanguinhos and Lafepe, Guimarães said that the delay is normal in any production process and reaffirmed his expectation with the local production of the medicine by the end of this year. MS&D flagged the intention to locally produce the medicine and it is open to dialogue again with the government after the episode known as "the compulsory license" of EFAVIRENZ. (AV)

Gabriela Chaves <gabriela.chaves@msf.org.br>
MSF Brazil