The pharmaceutical industry was one of the most dynamic since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, according to a report by the Chamber of Industries of Guayaquil (CIG)the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry registered sales that increased by 13% during 2020 and 17% during the first quarter of 2021. Santiago Salguero, executive director of the Association of Pharmaceutical Laboratories (Alafar), reviews the performance of the industry in the country since the pandemic began and analyzes how it starts in 2022.
How have the last two years been for the pharmaceutical sector?
It must be considered that there were very strong peaks, both in 2020 and 2021, due to the effect generated by COVID-19 in the country. These are peaks that were experienced in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, which affected positively and negatively. The sector attends to many pathologies and many of them were affected by low demand, there are the segments of gynecology and obstetrics, skin care, pediatrics, cardiology, among others. This affected the 15 corporations (Latin American, European and Ecuadorian) that are part of the association and that supply 35% of the private market in the country. We must remember that we are not only providers of one line, but of many needs in health care.
How was that effect?
In matters of supply of merchandise. In this sense, the results were mixed, that is, there were companies that had better results and more strength due to their attention to pathologies related to the pandemic and those that did not have strength in these lines, were negatively affected. For example, the sun protection segment was reduced to zero at a certain point in 2020. However, little by little, this and other lines based on the reactivation of people’s mobility have recovered, although not to levels of prepandemic.
And those related to the respiratory segment?
Demand was high and still persists. It must be taken into account that the provision of medicines for the pathology that was required at the highest peak of the pandemic, which was respiratory, was permanent, there were no cuts.
Has the production of medicines in this specific segment even doubled?
In the pharmaceutical sector there are three links: suppliers (in this case the laboratories), distributors and supply sites (pharmacies). In this process of supplying what was scheduled for one month, now it was for two months. March to September 2020 were peaks. The high demand forced to at least double the supply.
In 2021, did the same upward trend continue or did it begin to regularize?
With the start of vaccination on a national scale, we began to walk towards normality. Everything that had to do with what intensive units demand was regulated, likewise analgesics, antibiotics and antipyretics. There was a normal channel, but it was still above pre-pandemic levels.
How did 2022 start for the pharmaceutical sector?
The pandemic continues, so there are still lines with a demand above that of the pre-pandemic and others that are on the way to recover. One of the lessons learned was that any kind of planning can come to nothing. It is difficult, now, to have a quarterly or semi-annual projection of how a specific sector will do.
Are there axes outlined to work from the Association this year?
They are three. The first is patient orientation and together with Arcsa, “The recipe is respected” is promoted. The campaign seeks to enforce medical prescription and avoid the dangers of self-medication. Then there is the axis of guaranteeing the provision of medicines for the population, focusing, as a priority, on avoiding the monopolization of active ingredients, the basis of medicines and, in particular, participating in and verifying the development of a regulation for the Protection of Test Data. of Medicines within the framework of the Commercial Agreement that Ecuador maintains with the European Union. In this way, it does not impede the access of various competitors to the drugs required by the population.
The third axis is perfecting the pricing process. That is, work in a coordinated manner with the authorities of the Ministry of Public Health so that the industry provides the respective technical support in the pricing process. In this way, it will seek to avoid the possible exit from the market of certain drugs and the entry of new therapeutic alternatives will be encouraged. We are a sector that wants to participate actively with the authorities.
What would be the challenges to overcome this year?
Before the pandemic, the pharmaceutical sector needed around three months of planning to import raw materials or finished products. Since 2020, with the peaks of the pandemic, planning processes have been reformulated and times of six and even eight months are now required. This is due, in part, to external factors. Let us remember that logistics on a global scale was affected by the issue of container shortages and high freight costs, all of which influences the supply process. The anticipated provision that the partners had made it possible not to run out of supplies in critical periods of the pandemic. The pandemic is not over yet and these problems still persist for all industries, that will be the biggest challenge. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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