Africa-Press – Cape verde. The new proposal for the National List of Medications, presented today during the meeting of the National Medication Council, foresees the introduction of more than 300 new pharmaceutical forms and more than 500 dosages with special attention to pediatric needs and diseases that most affect Cape Verdeans, such as hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, HIV, kidney and respiratory diseases.
“With the new revision, the proposal for which will be presented at this meeting, we will be making an unprecedented qualitative leap. We will propose the introduction of more than 300 new pharmaceutical forms and more than 500 new dosages. This is not an empty or coldly calculated number, but a number that must be realistic and human, as each of these medications and each of these dosages represents the possibility of a more appropriate, more effective, and more accessible treatment for all,” he said.
According to Jorge Figueiredo, the proposal has been in development since 2022, with the involvement of the Technical-Scientific Committee, and also incorporates medications for palliative care, medical emergencies, mental health, addictions, and alcoholism.
The inclusion of new vaccines is also planned, aligned with international standards and the national epidemiological reality, which, in the words of Jorge Figueiredo, reinforces the prevention and public health strategy.
In turn, the study’s consultant and responsible for the technical preparation of the proposal, Edith Santos, explained that the legislation requires the list to be reviewed every two years, which has not been met due to various constraints.
“The time has come for this review. It’s a major project, as it hasn’t been done in many years, and the list had to be adapted to socioeconomic and health conditions, as well as the evolution of medicine,” he said.
The specialist also explained the difference between the National Medicines List and the Essential Medicines List.
The first guides wholesalers regarding the medicines authorized to circulate in the country, while the second represents the Ministry of Health’s commitment to its public structures, that is, the medicines that the State assumes, in principle, are available in health units.
“We’re talking about around 300 molecules, 400 or so pharmaceutical forms, and 585 dosage forms. The essential list includes over 600 medications, a number that will still be discussed at this meeting,” added Edith Santos.
Among the new developments, medications that are easier to administer stand out, which could improve adherence to treatment by chronic patients.
“There’s been a significant introduction in the field of oncology, which is still new in Cape Verde. Drugs with combined compounds have also been introduced, which makes life easier for patients,” he explained.
The consultancy also highlighted that the new list could help resolve recurring problems with shortages in the supply of medicines.
“With the drugs included on the list, patients no longer need to request authorization from ERIS to import medications. This simplifies the process, relieves ERIS, and allows wholesalers to import the drugs, reducing stock shortages,” he explained.
It is worth noting that the last review of the National List of Medicines dates back to 2009.The new proposal for the National List of Medications, presented today during the National Medication Council meeting, provides for the introduction of more than 300 new pharmaceutical forms and more than 500 dosages, with special attention to pediatric needs and the diseases that most affect Cape Verdeans, such as hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, HIV, kidney and respiratory diseases.
“With the new revision, the proposal for which will be presented at this meeting, we will be making an unprecedented qualitative leap.
We will propose the introduction of more than 300 new pharmaceutical forms and more than 500 new dosages.
This is not an empty or coldly calculated number, but a number that must be realistic and human, as each of these medications and each of these dosages represents the possibility of more appropriate, more effective, and more accessible treatment for all,” he said.
According to Jorge Figueiredo, the proposal has been under development since 2022, with the involvement of the Technical-Scientific Committee, and also incorporates medications for palliative care, medical emergencies, mental health, addictions, and alcoholism.
The inclusion of new vaccines, aligned with international standards and the national epidemiological reality, is also planned, which, in Jorge Figueiredo’s words, reinforces the prevention and public health strategy.
Edith Santos, the study’s consultant and responsible for the proposal’s technical development, explained that legislation requires the list to be reviewed every two years, a requirement that has not been met due to various constraints.
“The time has come for this review.
It’s a large project because it hasn’t been done for many years, and it was necessary to adapt the list to socioeconomic and health conditions, as well as to the evolution of medicine,” she said.
The specialist also explained the difference between the National List of Medications and the List of Essential Medications.
The first guides wholesalers on the medications authorized for circulation in the country, while the second represents the Ministry of Health’s commitment to its public structures—the medications that the State assumes, in principle, are available in healthcare facilities.
“We’re talking about approximately 300 molecules, 400 or so pharmaceutical forms, and 585 dosage forms.
The essential list includes more than 600 medications, a number that will still be discussed at this meeting,” added Edith Santos.
Among the new developments, medications that are easier to administer stand out, which could improve treatment adherence among chronic patients.
“There has been a significant introduction in the field of oncology, which is still new in Cape Verde.
Medications with combined compounds have also been introduced, which makes life easier for patients,” she explained.
The consultancy also highlighted that the new list could help solve recurring problems with shortages in the medication supply.
“With the medications included on the list, patients no longer need to request authorization from ERIS to import medications.
This simplifies the process, relieves ERIS, and allows wholesalers to import medications, reducing stock shortages,” he explained.
It’s worth noting that the last revision of the National Medication List was in 2009.
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