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Venezuela

Guidelines for drug donations: Venezuela

The Government of Venezuela, through the Minister of Health and Social Development who is the Coordinator of all National Committees responding to the disaster that struck the country, has designated the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization as the Coordinator for all international donations of drugs and other essential supplies.
The national authorities responsible for managing drugs and others medical supplies are Dr. Ana Elisa Osorio, Viceminister of Health (anelisa@hotmail.com; ph. (58-2) 481-9101); Dr. Maria Urbaneja, Director of International Health (murbaneja@razetti.mh.gov.ve) and Dr. Francisco Griffin, Director of Drug Supply, Ministery of Health and Social Development, Venezuela (griffin@cantv.ve).

The following guidelines have been developed to establish communication between donors and recipients, and to better organize the process of selection, reception and distribution of donated drugs:

1. All drug donations follow the official list of needed drugs developed by the Government of Venezuela. The list was prepared based on the WHO Model List of Essential Drugs, the type of the emergency facing the country and the National Formulary of Venezuela. This list is updated as the requirements of drugs to meet the emergency situation change. Click here to view the latest list.

2. Donated drugs should have a remaining shelf life of at least 10-12 months and all drugs should comply with international quality standards.

3. All donated drugs should be labeled either in Spanish, English or Portuguese. No other languages are accepted.

4. Drugs labeling should include the following information: generic name of the drug, strength, container size (quantity per container), manufacturer and expiration date, if applicable.

5. Donors who wish to donate drugs that are not on the official list must request approval from the Government of Venezuela before sending any donations. Donors should address queries to the authorities listed above and provide the following information: generic names of the drugs, strength, quantity, manufacturer and expiration dates (if applicable).

6. Donations should be addressed to:

Servicio de Especialidades Farmacéuticas SEFAR
Ministerio de Salud y Desarrollo Social
Caracas, Venezuela
Atención: Dr. Francisco Griffin

7. Donations should be sent through the following airports:

Aeropuerto Internacional Simón Bolívar
Maiquetía - Venezuela

Aeropuerto Internacional Valencia
Edo. Carabobo
Venezuela

8. Donors should pay cost of international transport of donations. The Government will cover local transport, warehousing, port clearance and handling.

9. Donations in cash for the drug supply are encouraged. In this case, donors should contact the Venezuelan Embassy in their country or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela.

10. If donations of drugs are made, donors should send information on the airline, flight number, date and time of arrival to the national authorities named above, with copy to PAHO/WHO Office, Atn: Dr. Isaías Daniel Gutiérrez, PWR-Venezuela (phone: (58-2) 265.0403; 267.1622; 267.1722; fax: (58-2) 261.6069; e-mail: daniel@ven-ops-oms.org