Legal & Regulatory > Bolivia > Regulatory, Pricing and Reimbursement

An overview of the regulation, pricing and reimbursement of drugs in Bolivia. Prepared in association with Indacochea & Asociados, a leading Bolivian law firm, this is an extract from The Pharma Legal Handbook: Bolivia, available to purchase here for USD 99.

1. What are the regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over drugs, biologicals, and medical devices in your country?

In Bolivia the authority that regulates all matters is the State Agency for Medical Products and Health Technology (Agencia Estatal de Medicamentos y Tecnología en Salud -AGEMED-y el Ministerio de Salud dependent of the Health Ministry).

2. What is the regulatory framework for the authorization, pricing, and reimbursement of drugs, biologicals, and medical devices?

There is no specific norm that regulates price fixing for medicines or medical products. All other aspects are regulated by Law No. 1737 (Medicine Law), Supreme Decree No. 25235, and other ministerial resolutions that regulate all aspects concerning the sanitary registrations, authorizations, imports, etc.

3. What are the steps to obtain authorization to develop, test, and market a product?

4.What are the approximate fees for each authorization?

In order to obtain authorization for an imported pharmaceutical (medicine, drug, or other) the costs are around US$ 300 while a local pharmaceutical US$140. For an imported generic product, costs can be around US$ 230 while a local one US$ 115.

5. For how long are marketing authorizations/registrations valid? How are marketing authorizations/registrations renewed?

Authorizations (registros sanitarios) once issued are valid for a five-year period. Under Bolivian law, renovations must follow the same procedure as if the company wants to register a new product.

6. How does the authorization process differ between brand-name products and generic products? Are there differences for local manufacturers versus foreign-owned manufacturers?

Yes, there are certain differences between them. For example, in order to be able to distribute and commercialize generic products in the country, they must be included in a list that is issued by the authority and can proceed to obtaining the authorization directly. The other products must previously be authorized by the Department of Quality Management, Efficiency and Safety and then be able to solicit the products´ authorization.

The main difference between local and foreign manufacturers lies in the requirements that they need to present before the authority and the costs that need to be incurred by each of them.

7. How are combination products (drug + drug, drug + biologic, drug + device, biologic + device, drug + biologic + device) regulated?

Under Bolivian law, these products don’t have a special kind of regulation. Therefore, they are regulated like any other product.

8. How is compliance with regulation monitored and evaluated? Is the regulatory regime comparable with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency expectations and requirements?

The public institution is in charge of making sure all regulations are complied with. They do so by asking companies to provide information, documentation and might even inspect warehouses and administrative offices.

9. What is the potential range of penalties for noncompliance?

Penalties can include economic sanctions, confiscation of products, to even cancelling licenses in order to import and/or commercialize products in the country.

10. Is there a national healthcare system? If so, how is it administered and funded?

Yes, Bolivia has a National System of Health which is composed of entities, institutions and organizations both public and private that provide health services, which are regulated by the Health Ministry. In the public sector, the Health Ministry is in charge of regulating and conducting all national policies and strategies. By doing so, all employees can access health care and treatments. In the private sector it is composed of insurance companies, prepaid health companies and nongovernmental organizations. In way of traditional medicine which is widely used in the country, on March 8^th, 2006 a special sub-ministry was created in order to facilitate indigenous populations, afro communities amongst other communities. The public sector is finances by the government while the employees’ sector is financed by both the employees and employers. The private sector is financed by them.

11. How does the government (or public) healthcare system function with private sector healthcare?

The sectors work independently. There might be cases where they work together in public tenders where public institutions buy private medications.

12. Are prices of drugs and devices regulated and, if so, how?

No, prices are not regulated.

13. How are drugs and devices used by patients paid for? What roles do public and private payers play?

All drugs and devices used by patients must be paid by each patient. Nonetheless, under Bolivian labor law, employees should be affiliated in a public health fund and receive medical services. In this case, there are some medicines and devices that are included in these services. Employers must make monthly contributions in order to cover costs.

14. Who dispenses drugs and devices to patients and how are those dispensers compensated?

The distribution must be made by a qualified pharmacist. Because they are hired as an employee, they receive a monthly salary.

15. What are the professional and legal responsibilities of those who dispense drugs and devices? What role do they play in providing patient care, information, and safety?

A professional in charge of medication dispensation or distribution must hold the highest ethical principles since a patient’s health and life is in game. Therefore, they have civil and even penal responsibilities against them.