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Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation plans to increase its production of remedies in its laboratories in Rio de Janeiro from 1.7 billion to 10 billion units. The remedies are distributed free of cost to the population.
The increase in production capacity is due to the purchase, for US$ 6 million, of a laboratory that belonged to the Glaxo do Brasil company.
The executive director of the Fiocruz Institute of Drug Technology, Núbia Boechat, explains that the acquisition of the new factory will reduce the government's outlays on drug purchases.
"The savings will amount to US$ 3.6 million (10 million reais) with the new laboratory."
In 2003, the production of Fiocruz's Farmanguinhos laboratory saved the federal governmnet US$ 72.3 million (200 million reais), she informed.
According to Boechat, the laboratories will manufacture antibiotics, for the first time.
"Since the laboratory that was acquired has elevated technological standards, our production lines will be expanded. At present we work basically in the area of solids and semi-solids, pills, creams, and ointments.
"Now we shall have productions lines for sprays, asthma medicines, and antibiotics," she explains.
She also underscores the superior quality of the medications produced by Fiocruz.
"Brazil has a very significant pioneering effort. We are the only country in the world with a network of 18 government laboratories, five of them medium in size, all very well organized.
"The medicines are used by the Federal Health System and the government's programs for needy citizens. Moreover, the government laboratories are the sole producers of drugs for tuberculosis, Chagas's disease, leishmaniosis, Hansen's disease, and others.
"These diseases offer no incentive for large pharmaceutical companies, because the profits are low," she observes.
In Boechat's opinion, the acquisition of the Glaxo laboratory will directly benefit the Brazilian population.
"We have up-to-date equipment and trained personnel that work from the development of the remedy to quality control. Our motto is to produce high quality remedies for the needy population," she concludes.
Agência Brasil
Translator: David Silberstein
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