Managua, July 8, 2024 (PAHO/WHO) - The Ministry of Health of Nicaragua, with the objective of improving the quality of access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies, has prepared an Institutional Development Plan (PDI), corresponding to the year 2024-2025. This plan will significantly strengthen the capacities of the National Health Regulation Agency (ANRS).
This effort is aimed at optimizing health regulatory processes, applying quality and safety standards that effectively manage the risks inherent in surveillance activities. This ensures that the population has access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies of proven high quality.
The initiative has the technical support of PAHO/WHO and focuses on three key pillars: a) strengthening the legal framework, b) development and implementation of a Quality Management System focused on risk management, and c) human resource capacity building.
Nicaragua received a mission of experts in sanitary regulation to support the development of the activities included in the PMI. Compliance with these activities will enable the country to consolidate maturity level two according to the GBT (Global Benchmarking Tool) and it is expected that by 2025 it will be able to comply with level three sub-indicators.
The process of strengthening the ANRS includes a continuing education plan for the personnel of the national regulatory system, the implementation of new technologies to modernize and streamline processes, as well as the strengthening of the regulatory framework; processes that are being implemented and are expected to be completed during 2025. In addition, it will focus on the development of surveillance and control skills, thus achieving a robust regulatory system that will facilitate the Nicaraguan population's access to vaccines, medicines and other vital medical products for the country and the subregion.
