Central America Plans Creation of Regional Health Secretariat

El Salvador's deputy health minister, José Ernesto Navarro, has been quoted by the Associated Press as saying "a special executive secretary will enable us to examine all health-related matters in all Central American countries". Specific issues that the regional health secretariat would deal with include malnutrition, dengue, HIV/AIDS, rotavirus-associated diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Joint Purchase of Medicines Would Bring Greater Negotiating Power

In addition, Navarro also suggested that the health secretariat could work towards the joint purchase of medicines, which would give the constituent countries greater negotiating power. According to Navarro, the high cost of medicines is a particular problem in Central America because it is still a developing region and all the constituent countries still purchase their medicines separately. One suggestion is that medicine purchases could be handled centrally by COMISCA.

However, a number of stumbling blocks still need to be overcome, including the fact that each country has its own financial regulations. One possible suggestion is that the purchases could initially be for high-cost drugs such as cancer and HIV/AIDS medicines, and that the purchase of other essential drugs could follow.

Outlook and Implications

The proposed creation of a Central American health secretariat comes in the context of an increase in the initiatives being taken at regional level. For example, another matter being discussed by COMISCO in its meeting in Panama is the devising of an integrated policy for care of Central American prisoners with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Under the terms of a proposed new policy, the families of infected prisoners would also qualify to receive medical treatment.

Other AIDS-related initiatives have also been high on the agenda: the day before the meeting, a new laboratory was inaugurated to diagnose and treat HIV/AIDS in Central America. The US$8 million laboratory, which was financed by the World Bank, has been set up in the Gorgas Commemorative Health Studies Institute. It will benefit patients in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

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