translated from Spanish: President Piñera enacted Cenabast Act that would reduce the price of medicines by 70%

President Sebastián Piñera enacted on the morning of this Wednesday, together with the Minister of Health, Jaime Mañalich, the law that expands the powers of the Central Supply of the National Health Service System (Cenabast), which will allow q when people buy medicines at lower prices. On this, the representative commented that he is “convinced, as is the vast majority of Chileans, that pharmacies, some pharmacies, laboratories, some laboratories, have been abusing too many Chileans for too long and it was time to put it shortcut and term, ” added,” he added, “because we all know that medicines in Chile are much more expensive.” “Lowering drug prices is a moral imperative.” Cenabast’s work has been rather focused on purchasing medicines exclusively for communal hospitals, offices and pharmacies, and the law will allow pharmacies to purchase drugs through the same agency purchasing system and thus allow lower prices by up to 70%. In the first instance Cenabast will be able to sell medicines at cheaper prices to neighborhood pharmacies and is expected to include larger pharmacies later. A ceiling price at which medicines may be sold will be set, so that low prices are maintained and ensured that medicines are cheaper for the population. To comply with this will be created an advisory council that will be responsible for recommending the maximum sales value. The Chair recalled the 31 health-focused measures he had announced in October 2019, of which he indicated that half were already implemented. He took the opportunity to congratulate the Minister of Health on the progress made and urged him that the other half be implemented as soon as possible. For his part, Jaime Mañalich, stressed that the law will not only benefit pharmacies, but also any intermediary body that is in charge of the state. “By this law extends to all intermediaries, i.e. those non-profit corporations, let’s call the Chilean League Against Epilepsy, let’s call the National Cancer Corporation, call institutional hospitals that belong to the Forces State-owned hospitals and hospitals, such as the University of Chile Hospital,” he said. Piñera further said that “this law was passed in 50 days, and I want to thank Congress,” the representative added. “I hope and trust that Cenabast, Fonasa and the Universal Health Plan will become the best friends and allies of Chileans who need health care or need to buy medicines, that’s the north, that’s the goal,” he said.

Original source in Spanish