Cuba USA

Scientific Research in Cuba Converted into Health

Source: juventud rebelde

Along with the Director Generals of the World and Pan American Health Organizations, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, presided over the inauguration of the new headquarters of the State Centres for the Control of Medicines, Medical Devices and the National Coordinating Centre for Clinical Trials

Exploiting the potential of scientific and technological research that has been developed in Cuba, despite the difficult economic situation faced for decades, is one of the concepts that stood out on Tuesday at the opening of the new headquarters of the State Centre for the Control of Medicines, Medical Devices (CECMED), and the National Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials(CENCEC).

Located in the municipality of Playa, the facility has a total area of 11 209 square meters, and has six levels with distinct installations, technological floors and ceilings, automated systems and computerization of the management functions of both centres, with technology for quality control of medicinal products and medical devices that comply with good practice established by the World Health Organization.

The tour of the modern facility, with Raul and the directors of the WHO and Pan American Health Organization, were also José Ramón Machado Ventura, second secretary of the Central Party Committee and Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers and other guests.

An example of integration between science and welfare

Cuba is the only country in which there is an integration of scientific research and development in a closed cycle, ranging from scientific study to focusing on public health, with significant results achieved for the population, said the Director General the WHO, Margaret Chan, speaking at the opening of the science facility.

It meant that the national regulatory authority of Cuba has an important role to play: "You can become a model of best practices for countries in the region, reaffirming our decision to appoint them as the Collaboration Centre for PAHO and WHO for the regulation of health technologies."

For 25 years they have been creating a body dedicated to ensuring quality products and medicines for the Cuban people and other countries and helping to build that capacity in the region through technology transfer and technical cooperation.

Scientists in Cuba are dedicated people, in a context of siege by the U.S. blockade. "But you have become regional leaders of scientific research, and I give them my full support," said Dr. Chan.

The leading WHO representative said that the people and Government of Cuba are very dear to her, and highlighted the strategic thinking of leaders Fidel and Raul Castro in the design of an integrated model of science and health for their population.

With the same passion shown by Dr. Margaret Chan in her speech, Dr. Carissa Etienne stressed the importance today of the scientific innovation in Cuba with the combination of good practices in the manner of building collective and sustainable regulatory systems.

First primary register in America

The experience gained by Cuba in the design and conduct of clinical trials of medical, pharmaceutical and biotech products, allowed the Cuban Public Registry of Trials, the first primary register in America to be approved by the WHO in 2011, said Roberto Morales Ojeda, Minister Health.

"Cuba now has eight vaccines of domestic production of the 11 that make up the National Programme for covering 13 diseases. Added to that, of the 888 items that make up the basic drugs, 592 of them are produced by the Cuban biopharmaceutical industry, he added.

"They have also completed 133 national and international clinical trials with 58 products, with the participation of more than 4,000 researchers and the academic development of a national training program for best practices," he said.

Since its founding in 1991, he reported that CECMED has had the mission to promote and protect the health of the population through regulation systems, efficacy and quality of drugs, making it a reference for the region.

Since 2000 is has been certified as competent for the Regulation System of Vaccines, and by the Pan American Health Organization as National Regulatory Authority for Regional Reference for Drugs and Biological Products since 2011.

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