The 2nd Census of the National Pharmachemical Industry was held on October 11, when the Vice-president for Health Production and Innovation (VPPIS) of Fiocruz, Jorge Bermudez, presented some information on the sector, through the study “Avaliação do setor produtivo farmoquímico nacional – capacitação tecnológica e produtiva”, supported by Fiotec. The project had as purpose mapping and finding the companies acting in Brazil, analyzing the innovation effort and partners, assessing economic aspects related to the costs and funding structure, collecting suggestions from the companies and preparing report with information capable of supporting proposals to the sector, among others. All information gathered was presented during the event, held in the conference room of the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), in Brasília, attended by the industry, government and research area representatives.
Currently, the national pharmachemical park is made of 36 companies, mostly producers of Active Pharmaceutical Input (IFAs) of synthetic source. Thirty companies out of these participate in the study. Compared to the 1st census, there was a growth of 30% in the number of companies visited. Moreover, there was an increase in the specialization, in the number of graduates and undergraduates in the area.
The largest concentration is in the Southeast region, mostly in Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo and in Brasília. Regarding the productive activity, only 47% of the companies are exclusively pharmachemical, 21% act as pharmachemical and pharmaceutical (human or veterinary), 14% chemical or excipient (substances existing in medicines and completing the mass or volume specified) and 14% extraction (animal or vegetal).
Fragilities
The study found also some fragilities: there is no production of raw material for antibiotics in Brazil. The production of inputs for antineoplastics (for cancer) has to be consolidated and investments are lacking to expand the medicine producer park for cardiovascular diseases, neglected, and for the central nervous system.
Suggestions
At that occasion, the companies’ representatives could express their opinions and give suggestions on the theme. The grant of tax incentives for the generic companies using national raw material, increase of import rate should the same raw material be produced in Brazil and increase of the public funding offer for small-sized industries were mentioned. According to Jorge Bermudez, those issues are included in the report of the Special Subcommittee of Development for the Health Industry Complex, Production of Pharmaceuticals, Equipment and other inputs, of the Social Security Commission of the House of Representatives.
*With information from Fiocruz News Agency
