Buenos Aires, October 3, 2023 (PAHO/WHO) – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, held a meeting today with the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, in which they highlighted the need to strengthen the production of vaccines and medical supplies in Latin America and the Caribbean, in order to move towards regional self-sufficiency.
In this sense, Dr. Barbosa highlighted the agreement signed yesterday with health, science and technology authorities of the country for the transfer of technology to the National Administration of Laboratories and Health Institutes (ANLIS-Malbrán), in order to develop nanoparticles of lipids, essential inputs in the production of mRNA vaccines.
Argentina, through the biopharmaceutical company Sinergium Biotech, was selected in 2021 by the WHO to receive technology transfer for the production of mRNA vaccines, which may eventually be offered to other countries in the region through the Regional Revolving Funds of the WHO. OPS.
Now, ANLIS-Malbrán will contribute to the production chain with the development of nanoparticles. In addition, the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development and Innovation (R&D&i Agency) will join in by promoting studies and creating capabilities.
The future development of these vaccines and supplies in the country will help reduce the region’s external dependence and move towards more equitable access to vaccines.
A few days after the inauguration in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires of the V World Summit on Mental Health, the Director of PAHO and the Argentine President analyzed the challenges in the matter after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the progress of the country from the perspective of human rights and inclusion.
The PAHO/WHO representative in Argentina, Eva Jané Llopis, and the Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti, also participated in the meeting at the Casa Rosada.
The official visit to Argentina of the Director of PAHO, which began yesterday, has a work agenda that includes meetings with health, science and technology, and defense authorities, as well as meetings with parliamentarians and representatives of the United Nations and the centers PAHO collaborators in the country. It also includes visits to the Garrahan Hospital and the ANLIS-Malbrán and Sinergium Biotech laboratories.
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