Source: 23/10/2007

Document with the main claims of the pharmaceutical sector was released at the end of the 33rd National Pharmaceutical Trade Convention (Convenfarma). The so-called “Carta de Brasília” has the main objective of contributing to universal access to medicines in Brazil, since approximately half of the Brazilian population is unable to buy medicines, which affects public health care. The letter was prepared based on the themes discussed during the meeting, which took place in the federal capital from October 9th to 11th at the Ulysses Guimarães Convention Center. The “Carta de Brasília” will be delivered to representatives of the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches. The main points are:

The letter is as follows:

LETTER OF BRASÍLIA
 

Under the leadership of ABCFARMA, representatives of the Pharmaceutical trade segment from all over the country, as well as the businessmen present at the 33rd National Pharmaceutical Trade Convention, gathered in the city of Brasília-DF, on October 9, 10 and 11, 2007, decided to edit this Letter from Brasilia, addressed to the Public Powers of the federal, state and municipal spheres and to Brazilian society, in general, where they present and defend a set of proposals aimed at contributing to “Universal Access to Medicines in Brazil”, central theme of the discussions held during the Convention:
 

1. Classification of medication in the lowest practiced levels of tax rates, a function of its essentiality for the population in general;
2. Definition / expansion of co-payment program incentives, by private companies and health plans, through tax and other incentives, as a way of guaranteeing comprehensive pharmaceutical assistance to Brazilian workers;
3. Exclusion of restrictive measures imposed on the sector, in disagreement with the principles of free initiative, provided for in the Brazilian Constitution;
.4. Increase the share of health expenses in the Union budget, aligning them with international benchmarks;
5. Increase the share of medicines, in relation to other expenses in the expenses incurred by the Union;
6. Flexibility in price control, allowing a selective and gradual release of some segments, where market forces are more efficient than price controls imposed by the Government;
7. Maintain an intense fight against the informal market and tax evasion, as a strategy to prevent unfair competition and increase tax collection by the government, generating a greater volume of resources for health applications;
8. Stimulate the debate between representatives of the private sector and members of the Brazilian Parliament, in order to ensure the development of a legal framework that meets the interests and needs of all those involved, such as: consumers, businessmen, governments and society in general.     
9. Flexibility in the DRCs, imposed on pharmaceutical trade by ANVISA, due to the intense disruption they cause to the sector. EX: RDC / 27; SNGPC; public consultation 69, granting a minimum period of 3 years for adaptation;
10. Immediate suspension of the opening of new state pharmacies or drugstores. 
 

Aware of the seriousness of the existence of a large contingent of the Brazilian population with no possibility of access to medicines and, therefore, of the need to move forward in structuring more appropriate, consistent, efficient and effective policies to approach and solve the problem, the conventional ones present to the event, by means of applause, endorse this Letter from Brasilia and they assume the public commitment to commit themselves to the implementation of their proposals, in which they hope to count on the unrestricted support of society, parliamentarians and the government of the country.
 

Brasília, DF, October 11, 2007.

Felipe de Faria
President of 33ª Convenfarma and 17ª Feirafarma