Venezuelan Executive Office to draw up list of "prioritized" drugs

Venezuelan Ministry of Commerce will compile a new list providing for a set of drugs that will be given preference in import operations, the ministry told representatives from the pharmaceutical sector.

The measure aims at regulating US dollar sale to the industry, a polled source informed. Although the details are still unknown, according to the source, the authorities had informed that for the purpose of drafting the list of "prioritized" drugs, the companies' records on imports and the sort of diseases treated with each drug will be taken into consideration.

Within the framework of further regulations, the National Superintendent of Costs and Prices, Karlín Granadillo, announced on Thursday, "We must find out the real need for taking some drugs, for instance, how publicity influences consumption of some drugs."

"It is important to be reasonable in drugs domestic consumption," she official noted.

rdeniz@eluniversal.com

Translated by Jhean Cabrera