New PAHO Report: Strength in Regulatory Reference and Reliance

In April 2021, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued Regulatory System Strengthening in the Americas: Lessons Learned from the National Regulatory Authorities of Regional Reference to overview the Americas’ regulatory landscape and regulatory responses to COVID-19. “The pandemic has highlighted the crucial role that the national regulatory authorities need to play in a public health emergency,” explains PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa to Cammilla Gomes, regulatory policy lead for Latin America, Roche, and DIA Global Forum regional editor for Latin America. “The regional pharmaceutical market is growing, products are becoming more complex, and countries are spending more in providing access to these products. Yet the resources and capacities are not growing at the same pace in most regulatory authorities, and we want to ensure that our countries are able to oversee and enforce the regulations to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and quality of all products.”