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Use of generics increases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico

Generics/General | Posted 21/06/2021 0 Post your comment

During the last month of July 2020, the pharmacist sector affiliated with the National Association of Medicines Retailers (Asociación Nacional de Distribuidores de Medicina A.C, ANADIM) reported an average sales growth of 23% fostered by the demand of generic medicines.

The ANADIM, that groups 17 chains with more than 10,500 points of sale, recorded the growth since the end of February to early August 2020, the category of generic medicines is the only one with a 19.1% growth in annual sales. On the other hand, the over-the-counter medicines, also known as OTC, had an annual shrinkage of 0.3%, and the patented drugs had an annual shrinkage of 0.1%.

‘The sale of generics is the one that generated the highest growth, fostered by two drivers, that most of the COVID-19 patients’ prescriptions are by their active substance and that people look for savings’, said the President of ANADIM, Santiago González, and he pointed out that the main prescribed generics have been linked with the international news that classify them as COVID-19 treatments, ivermectin grew 651.7% in annual sales since the pandemic started, followed by oseltamivir with 321.9%, dexametasone with 169.9% and azithromycin with 75.8%.

In August 2020, the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (Comisión
Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios, COFEPRIS) had announced its support to the generics medicines production, opening affordable options for the general population in addition to favouring the expansion of bidding for the public procurement, through the national pharmacological industry [1].

In a press conference on 14 November 2020, ‘A new generic medicines market’ strategy was revealed by the Health and Economic Secretaries, fostering a broader and stronger generic medicines market, for the benefit of Mexican nationals [1].

Access to generic medicines undermined in free trade agreement

LATIN AMERICAN FORUM We are pleased to announce the launch of our brand-new section the ‘Latin American Forum’ on GaBI. Our goal with this new section is to provide you with all the latest news and updates on developments of generic and biosimilar medicines in Latin America in Spanish. Check out the Latin American news articles here! Here is the first article: Precios de los biológicos para la artritis en América Latina Register to receive the GaBI Latin American Forum newsletter. Inform colleagues and friends of this new initiative. LATIN AMERICAN FORUM Nos complace anunciar el lanzamiento de nuestra nueva sección 'Foro Latinoamericano' en GaBI. Nuestro objetivo con esta nueva sección es brindarle las últimas noticias y actualizaciones sobre desarrollos de medicamentos genéricos y biosimilares en América Latina en español. ¡Vea los artículos de noticias latinoamericanos aquí! Aquí está el primer artículo: Precios de los biológicos para la artritis en América Latina Regístrese para recibir el boletín informativo GaBI Latin American Forum. Informe a colegas y amigos sobre esta nueva iniciativa.

Reference
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. A broader and stronger generic drug market is promoted in Mexico [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jun 21]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Reports/a-broader-and-stronger-generic-drug-market-is-promoted-in-mexico

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Source: COFEPRIS