Pharma closes in Venezuela. Chavismo nationalizes. Now produces... nothing.
Pharmaceutical production in Venezuela fell by 70% due to lack of supplies
By: Aporrea-El Universal | Monday, 02/11/2019 03:25 PM
1-02-19 .- "The pharmaceutical industry in the country works on average between 31 to 32 percent of its installed capacity due to the lack of inputs and foreign exchange to produce medicines," said representatives of the sector, reported El Universal portal.
President of the Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (CIFAR), Tito Lopez, explained that in 2014 laboratories produced about 714 million units of drugs and after three years the production is at about 200 million units.
"that This means that the annual average production fell by 70%, "said the leader of the pharmacists whose chamber includes 22 laboratories." In 2014 we had 35 members, "he added.
He explained that the decline in production is due to the lack of foreign currency for the purchase of raw materials, mostly imported, and also due to the loss of highly qualified professional personnel who have left the country due to the economic crisis.
Contamination in Pharma
About the confiscation measure of the Spanish pharmaceutical company SM Pharma in Maracaibo, ordered by the Government, López said that this laboratory was intervened in September 2018 by the government of Zulia state.
Lopez denied the statements of President Nicolás Maduro, who assured that the plant was able to produce 50% of the medicines in the country.
"There is nothing happening there," he said.
According to information from the sector, the plant produced 200 different types of medicines and 63 million units a year.
On Saturday, February 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain "deplored" the confiscation of Pharma and called for the cessation of government occupation.
Freddy Ceballos, president of the Venezuelan Pharmaceutical Federation (Fefarven), denounced that the areas of the Spanish plant are contaminated so they are taking measures in response to the controls of the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Hygiene.
He denounced that many pharmacies are threatened with closing due to a Seniat resolution that forces them to change the cash registers.
"We do not deny that Seniat will improve the collection of taxes but in December each team cost 1,300 dollars, not including other devices that are also imported," he warned.
https://www.aporrea.org/economia/n338272.html
Maduro made great noise about how he was going to personally see to it that these companies he (and Chavez) had nationalized (for the Glory of the Patria!) started producing drugs again... and how this particular plant was going to provide all the drugs needed for half the country. Only, like every other factory that Chavismo has nationalized, it produces nothing and its employees get paid 18 cents per day.
But, at least the workers now earn the means of production. The way that Marx wanted it.
