Managua, 3 Dec (EFE).-the health ministers of Central America and Dominican Republic defined in Nicaragua joint purchasing of medicines to reduce the cost of acquisitions in 2013, once in the first half of this year 20 million dollars, will save today reported a source officer.

the Minister of health of Nicaragua, Sonia Castro, official media confirmed that the objective of the meeting is to define the joint purchase of medicines to acquire them more cheap.

a report from the first half of 2012 of the system of Central American integration (SICA) points out that the region achieved price reductions on 19 drugs, some scooped up in a 50%.

as a result, countries saved nearly $ 20 million between January and June of this year.

Castro did not give details about the projections of closure of medical purchases in 2012, which would be discussed at the meeting.

< p> This is the central theme of the XXXVII meeting ordinary of the Council of Ministers of health in Central America and Dominican Republic (Comisca).

a report of December of 2011 of the Comisca indicates that this year “only” 30% of institutions in the region took this mechanism.

the lack of joint purchases in 2011 made some drugs that could get more cheap will end up paying up to 50% more expensive, according to the report.

El Comisca concerns that Central American institutions that made joint purchases saved 4 million dollars last year, while the savings potential was 22 million dollars.

Castro mentioned that Ministers of Central America will also address the issue of sustainability of the purchase of medicines for patients with HIV and deficiencies in nutrition.

the vergadering in Nicaragua, die besluit morgen, is dat dit land de Voorzitter pro tempore van SICA van juli, voor een periode van zes maanden heeft. EFE