[Public production of medicines in Brazil: an overview]

Public procurement of antineoplastic agents used for treating breast cancer in Brazil between 2013 and 2019

Background

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Brazil and the country’s public health care system is the main care provider. Timely treatment can increase the chance of cure, prevent metastasis and improve quality of life. Effective public procurement of antineoplastic agents can therefore improve access to drug therapy. This study investigates patterns in the procurement of selected antineoplastic agents used for treating breast cancer by public bodies and avoidable expenditure on these drugs between January 2013 and December 2019.

Methods

We selected antineoplastic agents used for adjuvant or preoperative chemotherapy listed in the 2018 Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines and included in category L of the WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system. We analyzed regular purchases of antineoplastic agents registered in the Integrated General Services Administration System (SIASG), considering purchased quantity, unit price, date of purchase and procuring entity. Prices were inflation-adjusted to July 2019 based on the National Consumer Price Index.

Results

A total of 10 antineoplastic agents were selected. Trastuzumab and tamoxifen accounted for the largest share of total spending and largest volume of purchases, respectively. The Ministry of Education was the largest purchaser in volume terms of all the drugs studied, except trastuzumab 440 mg, where the category “Other Institutions” accounted for most purchases, and vinorelbine 20 mg, where the Ministry of Health made most purchases. The category “Other Institutions” accounted for the largest share of total spending. Total avoidable expenditure was R$99,130,645. Prices paid for medicines and avoidable expenditure were highest in the Ministry of Defense.

Conclusions

The differences observed in the performance of different categories of buyers as to amounts purchased and prices practiced for antineoplastic agents could be reduced by employing strategies to expand the centralization of purchases, resulting in expanded access to breast cancer medicines in the public sector.

O papel dos produtores públicos de medicamentos e ações estratégicas na pandemia da Covid-19

RESUMO Na pandemia da Covid-19, os laboratórios farmacêuticos públicos adquiriram maior visibilidade em consequência de suas iniciativas para enfrentamento da doença e manutenção dos diversos programas da assistência farmacêutica. O artigo objetivou analisar as atividades cotidianas desses laboratórios durante a pandemia, a fim de compreender seu caráter estratégico para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), destacando os Institutos Butantan, Bio-Manguinhos e Farmanguinhos, haja vista o protagonismo em relação a vacinas e medicamentos. Mediante estudo de caso múltiplo, com abordagem qualitativa-descritiva, apresentou dados que indicam a mudança de perfil que vêm demonstrando nas últimas décadas. Identificaram-se as ações de maior relevância no enfrentamento da pandemia, tendo, como data de corte, julho de 2021. Como resultados, trouxe informações atuais sobre suas atividades e produtos, estágio das Parcerias para Desenvolvimento Produtivo, quadro funcional, fragilidades (internas e externas) e desafios atuais. Conclui-se pela importância dessas instituições do Estado para a garantia do acesso universal do SUS e desenvolvimento e produção de medicamentos e produtos de saúde essenciais, envolvendo desde os mais básicos até os de maior complexidade e valor agregado. Destarte, identifica-se a necessidade de uma agenda de mudanças, visando sustentabilidade em longo prazo e ampliação da contribuição para fortalecimento do Complexo Econômico-Industrial da Saúde.

The public production of medicines compared to the National Policy of Medicines and the burden of disease in Brazil

: The public production of medicines in Brazil by Government Pharmaceutical Laboratories has once again become the object of incentives, and Industrial Development Partnerships are one of the mechanisms adopted for the production of strategic medicines for the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). Considering that burden-of-disease studies have been used as a tool to define priority and essential medicines, the article compares the product portfolios of the country's Official Pharmaceutical Laboratories (OPL) and the list of strategic medicines for the SUS and burden of disease in Brazil in 2008. Of the 205 strategic medicines for the SUS and 111 from the portfolios, 73% and 89%, respectively, are on the National List of Essential Medicines (RENAME 2014). Some strategic medicines for the SUS are already produced by OPL and feature the selection of cancer drugs and biologicals. The current study contributes to the discussion on the public production of medicines in light of the country's current industrial policy and highlights the need to define priority drugs and the role of OPL in guaranteeing access to them.

The decision-making process in Brazil's ratification of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Tobacco consumption is a leading cause of various types of cancer and other tobacco-related diseases. In 2003, the World Health Assembly adopted the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), which aims to protect citizens from the health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. The Convention was to be ratified by the Member States of the WHO; in Brazil's case, ratification involved the National Congress, which held public hearings in the country's leading tobacco growing communities (municipalities). The current study analyzes this decision-making process according to the different interests, positions, and stakeholders. In methodological terms, this is a qualitative study based on document research, drawing primarily on the shorthand notes from the public hearings. We analyze the interests and arguments for and against ratification. The article shows that although preceded by intense debates, the final decision in favor of ratification was made by a limited group of government stakeholders, characterizing a decision-making process similar to a funnel.

Windows of opportunities and technological innovation in the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry

The Brazilian pharmaceutical industry is heavily dependent on external sources of inputs, capital, and technology. However, the emergence of technological opportunities and the development of biotechnology and the decline of the patent boom and resulting advances by generic drugs have opened windows of opportunities for the local industry. The article examines the Brazilian industry's innovative behavior vis-à-vis these opportunities, showing that although the industry as a whole invests little in innovation, a few large Brazilian companies have expanded their market share and stepped up their investments in research and development, supported by public policies for innovation. Resumo: A indústria farmacêutica brasileira caracteriza-se pela grande dependência de fontes externas de insumos, capital e tecnologia. O surgimento de oportunidades tecnológicas, associadas ao desenvolvimento da biotecnologia e ao fim do boom das patentes com o consequente avanço dos medicamentos genéricos, entretanto, vem abrindo janelas de oportunidades para a indústria local. Este artigo examina o comportamento inovador da indústria brasileira à luz dessas oportunidades, revelando que, embora o conjunto da indústria mantenha baixos níveis de investimentos em inovação, um pequeno grupo de grandes empresas nacionais vem ampliando sua participação no mercado e intensificando seus investimentos em pesquisa e desenvolvimento, apoiados por políticas públicas de inovação.

Development policy for the Brazilian health industry and qualification of national public laboratories

Technological innovations play a decisive role in societies' development by contributing to economic growth and the population's welfare. The state has a key role in this process by inducing innovative behavior, strategies, and decisions. This study addresses Brazil's current policy for development of the health industry and its effects on qualification of national public laboratories by contextualizing different cycles of interaction between health policy and the industrial base, discussing the government's development strategy and the transfer and absorption of health technology (through Industrial Development Partnerships), and presenting two current partnerships involving public laboratories in the production of medicines and vaccines. Resumo: As inovações tecnológicas jogam papel decisivo no processo de desenvolvimento das sociedades, visto que contribuem para gerar crescimento econômico e bem-estar da população. O Estado possui grande importância e centralidade nesse processo, pois pode induzir fortemente o comportamento, as estratégias e as decisões relativas à inovação. O presente artigo tem por objetivo investigar a atual política de desenvolvimento produtivo em saúde no Brasil e seus reflexos sobre a capacitação dos laboratórios públicos nacionais. Para essa finalidade, contextualiza os diferentes ciclos de interação entre a política de saúde e a sua base produtiva, discute a estratégia do governo brasileiro para o desenvolvimento, a transferência e a absorção de tecnologia na área da saúde (as parcerias para o desenvolvimento produtivo) e apresenta duas parcerias vigentes envolvendo laboratórios públicos para a produção de medicamentos e vacinas.

Indução de endividamento hospitalar na compra de medicamento em situação de monopólio: o caso do mesilato de imatinibe

Os gastos com medicamentos correspondem a uma grande parcela do orçamento em saúde. Sendo assim, a produção de conhecimento sobre o uso desses recursos é essencial na tomada de decisão em saúde pública e melhoria da assistência farmacêutica. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o processo de endividamento em um hospital universitário de alta complexidade devido ao gasto crescente com a aquisição de mesilato de imatinibe. Por meio de análise documental e registros no Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH) entre 2002 e 2010, realizou-se um estudo descritivo. A partir do caminho da incorporação do medicamento, foram mapeadas as estratégias da indústria farmacêutica e do governo, assim como as respostas governamentais de redução do preço. A sistematização e publicação de informações guardadas em arquivos e na memória podem contribuir para o acompanhamento dos resultados dos programas mantidos pelo Ministério da Saúde.

[Factors affecting the adoption of ICT tools in experiments with bioinformatics in biopharmaceutical organizations: a case study in the Brazilian Cancer Institute]

The scope of this article is to identify and analyze the factors that influence the adoption of ICT tools in experiments with bioinformatics at the Brazilian Cancer Institute (INCA). It involves a descriptive and exploratory qualitative field study. Evidence was collected mainly based on in-depth interviews with the management team at the Research Center and the IT Division. The answers were analyzed using the categorical content method. The categories were selected from the scientific literature and consolidated in the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework created for this study. The model proposed made it possible to demonstrate how the factors selected impacted INCA´s adoption of bioinformatics systems and tools, contributing to the investigation of two critical areas for the development of the health industry in Brazil, namely technological innovation and bioinformatics. Based on the evidence collected, a research question was posed: to what extent can the alignment of the factors related to the adoption of ICT tools in experiments with bioinformatics increase the innovation capacity of a Brazilian biopharmaceutical organization?

Can Brazil play a more important role in global tuberculosis drug production? An assessment of current capacity and challenges

BACKGROUND

Despite the existence of effective treatment, tuberculosis is still a global public health issue. The World Health Organization recommends a six-month four-drug regimen in fixed-dose combination formulation to treat drug sensitive tuberculosis, and long course regimens with several second-line drugs to treat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. To achieve the projected tuberculosis elimination goal by 2050, it will be essential to ensure a non-interrupted supply of quality-assured tuberculosis drugs. However, quality and affordable tuberculosis drug supply is still a significant challenge for National Tuberculosis Programs.

DISCUSSION

Quality drug production requires a combination of complex steps. The first challenge is to guarantee the quality of tuberculosis active pharmaceutical ingredients, then ensure an adequate manufacturing process, according to international standards, to guarantee final product's safety, efficacy and quality. Good practices for storage, transport, distribution and quality control procedures must follow. In contrast to other high-burden countries, Brazil produces tuberculosis drugs through a strong network of public sector drug manufacturers regulated by a World Health Organization-certified national sanitary authority. The installed capacity for production surpasses the 71,000 needed treatments in the country. However, in order to be prepared to act as a global supplier, important bottlenecks are to be overcome. This article presents an in-depth analysis of the current status of production of tuberculosis drugs in Brazil and the bottlenecks and opportunities for the country to sustain national demand and play a role as a potential global supplier. Raw material and drug production, quality control, international certification and pre-qualification, political commitment and regulatory aspects are discussed, as well recommendations for tackling these bottlenecks. This discussion becomes more important as new drugs and regimens to treat tuberculosis are expected in a close future.

SUMMARY

International manufacturers of raw material for tuberculosis treatment should undergo certification and pre-qualify their active pharmaceutical ingredients as a first step to ensure quality of tuberculosis drugs. At the country level, Brazilian public manufacturers should apply for international certification and tuberculosis drugs should be pre-qualified by international organisms. Finally, only with political commitment and large-scale production will Brazilian public sector manufacturers be able to partially supply the global market.

Why are generic drugs being held up in transit? Intellectual property rights, international trade, and the right to health in Brazil and beyond

Access to medicines faces a new legal threat: "border enforcement" of drug patents. Using Brazil as an example, this article shows how the right to health depends on international trade. Border seizures of generic drugs present human rights and trade institutions with a unique challenge. Can public health advocates rise to meet it?

Consumption of antihypertensive drugs dispensed under the pharmacy benefit management program

Pharmacy benefit management (PBM) programs provide attractive discounts for drug purchase, a relevant measure to address costs, mainly of drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases. This study investigated whether PBM may be used as a tool to provide information about the use of antihypertensive medications when they are purchased. The profile of medicines taken to treat high blood pressure by large IT company employees and their dependents was evaluated from January to December 2009. The mean rate of drug boxes purchased to control hypertension was 9.4 ± 10.0 in 2009. Men purchased more drugs than women. The number of drugs purchased for the treatment of hypertension was lower than expected in all age groups except for individuals aged 54-58 and >59 years. Among men, the purchase of drugs to treat hypertension was higher than expected in the 24-28, 34-38 and 54-58 age groups. Among women, results matched expectations, except for the age group 34-38 years, in which purchase was lower than expected. Individuals in the age group 0-18 years were found to consume antihypertensive drugs. Although the PBM system may be used to identify drugs purchased by users, it does not ensure patient adherence to recommended drug treatment to control hypertension.

Patentes farmacêuticas e saúde pública: desafios à política brasileira de acesso ao tratamento anti-retroviral

O preço elevado de medicamentos patenteados tem intensificado o debate em torno do impacto do regime da propriedade intelectual sobre o acesso a tratamentos de saúde, merecendo destaque o caso do HIV/AIDS. A política brasileira de tratamento anti-retroviral, parte de um programa nacional que integra medidas de prevenção e promoção da saúde, permitiu o alcance de uma ampla cobertura com qualidade, tendo sido apontada como modelo para outros países. Não obstante, conforme amadurece o Programa Nacional de DST e AIDS, os gastos com a incorporação de anti-retrovirais patenteados ao esquema terapêutico para pacientes em tratamento atinge um peso, cada vez maior, em seu orçamento. O presente artigo toma em conta os desafios apresentados pelas patentes farmacêuticas à saúde pública e discute possíveis caminhos para a sustentação da política de acesso universal e gratuito ao tratamento contra HIV/AIDS no Brasil.