Argentina to review use of fast-track authorizations for costly drugs
BUENOS AIRES, May 26 (Reuters) - Argentina's government said on Monday that it will review the use of fast-track authorizations for high cost drugs, as well as requiring future vaccine trials to include a placebo test group, as part of a broader revision of its healthcare policy.
"The Ministry of Health will propose to discuss the use of this type of authorization for very high-cost drugs, especially those intended for children and rare diseases," the government said in a statement. "Innovation cannot justify hasty decisions without solid evidence."
It said it would open technical discussions on approval criteria that prioritize patient safety and system sustainability.
The government also said vaccines would be subject to clinical studies with a placebo group "as a minimum standard."
"To review is not to deny," it added, saying the approach aimed to improve scientific rigor and boost public confidence.
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Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Chile abortion rights bill could shape Boric legacy as Latin American neighbors look on
VALPARAISO, Chile, June 5 (Reuters) - An effort by Chilean President Gabriel Boric to expand abortion rights in the final months of his administration could finally give him a progressive legacy after three years in office but it is an uphill task that Latin American conservatives are hoping will fail as they seek to reverse gains for the abortion rights movement in the region. Leftist Boric set off a fierce debate in Congress this week with a bill to ease restrictions on abortion. The attempt to fulfill a campaign promise comes at the tail end of an administration that has failed to deliver on progressive proposals such as wideranging tax reforms and a liberal new constitution, which was rejected at a referendum in 2022. Chile's proposed law would decriminalize abortion and allow for the termination of pregnancies up to 14 weeks under any circumstance, putting the country on par with neighboring Argentina. Recent expansions in Colombia and Mexico have cemented even broader abortion rights. But Boric's proposal does not appear to have the support in Congress to pass, potentially making the issue a central part of campaigns ahead of a November vote to replace him as president and elect most of the legislature. Reproductive rights may also face push back in neighboring Argentina where abortion was decriminalized in 2020. Argentine President Javier Milei, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, has cut some federal funding for contraceptives and emergency contraception, commonly known as the 'morning after pill.' "Demographic policies should be rethought beyond the atrocity of killing human beings developing in their mother's womb," Milei wrote in a recent op-ed. Milei has focused on taming runaway inflation, but mid-term elections later this year are likely to broaden his support, based on his strength in a recent Buenos Aires vote. That could test his readiness to push through a socially conservative agenda. Constanza Schonhaut, a lawyer and executive director of human rights organization Corporacion Humanas, noted that the abortion debate has increasingly transcended borders as both far right groups and feminist organizations form alliances online. "What happens in Chile can influence other countries and vice versa," Schonhaut said. "In an increasingly connected world, it is not only feminist organizations that are coordinating internationally." When Boric announced the legislation during his last annual address to the nation on Sunday, legislators waving green and purple bandanas that represent abortion rights cheered. "Generations of women have lived and fought for this," Boric said. "Don't deny them at least the democratic debate as citizens capable of deciding for themselves." Members of the conservative bench jeered and shouted, "No abortion!" and several walked out. "Why does (Boric) insist knowing he doesn't have the votes? Why? To insult us," Johannes Kaiser, a far-right firebrand legislator and among the leading presidential contenders, told reporters after leaving the room. A Monday poll, opens new tab showed 25% of voters favor the new proposal while 55% prefer to stick with the current legislation and 19% favor banning abortion. Chile's minister of women and gender, Antonia Orellana, who is overseeing the bill through Congress, acknowledged the proposal faces an uphill battle but said that was also the case with a 2017 law that allowed abortion in limited circumstances, such as rape. "It was work that took a long time and that's what we're aiming for," Orellana said, adding that the goal is to create a "genuine debate." Chile has rejected two attempts to rewrite the constitution, including one supported by Boric that would have expanded rights and a second conservative-led attempt that threatened the limited rights women have to abortion. "Our country gave a very clear sign that it doesn't want to roll back women's rights," Orellana said, noting that abortion rights were not the main reason voters rejected the first proposal, but defending them was a key reason women rejected the second one. The World Health Organization estimates that three of every four abortions in Latin America were unsafe last year. Despite legislation, many abortions take place outside the public healthcare system. The election outlook in Chile is unclear. Polls consistently show the top candidates varying from right to far right. For Congress, a May poll by Centro de Estudios Publicos shows left-wing parties with 17% support, 19% for conservatives and 39% for centrist parties. Politicians like Milei, Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whose country has Latin America's strictest abortion ban, have gained popularity in Chile as crime and immigration have come to top voters' mind. This has propelled candidates like Kaiser, who proposed shutting down the border and deploying the military to fight crime, to the top of polls, alongside fellow ultra-conservative Jose Antonio Kast and current frontrunner, experienced conservative Evelyn Matthei. Elisa Walker, a Chilean lawyer and policy expert based in Washington says the bill will likely depend on the next administration. "This is a bill that is always challenging to discuss. There's no ideal or perfect timing," she said.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Latin America's abortion rights in spotlight as Chile debates legalization
MEXICO CITY, June 5 (Reuters) - Chile's Congress is set to begin debating a bill that could make abortion legal on request nationwide, a debate which could have ripple effects across Latin America as a rift grows between nations making reproductive choices more accessible and those hardening legislation against abortion. Major Latin American countries like Mexico and Argentina provide broad access to abortion, while a Supreme Court case in Brazil seeking to expand access has been stalled for eight years. Although some countries have recently expanded abortion rights amid a wave of progressive politics, most still ban abortion in all or nearly all cases. Cuba became Latin America's first country to decriminalize abortion in 1965, decades ahead of its neighbors. Public hospitals provide the procedure free up to 12 weeks, with later abortions allowed in certain cases. These cases - rape or incest, fetal non-viability or risk to the woman's health or life - are commonly known as the "tres causales" (three reasons) and serve as a key reference across the region. Guyana legalized abortion in 1995, allowing it on request up to 8 weeks, with some extensions. Uruguay legalized abortion on request in 2012 up to 12 weeks, while Chile in 2017 eased a total ban to the tres causales restriction up to 12 weeks. In 2020 Argentina legalized abortion up to 14 weeks. Since President Javier Milei took office, some groups have raised concerns about cuts to funding and limited access to related healthcare. In 2022, Colombia — which had earlier legalized abortion under the tres causales — decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks, placing it among the world's more permissive countries. Mexico ruled criminal penalties for abortion unconstitutional in 2021 and reaffirmed this with a broader ruling in 2023, but as of today 10 of 32 administrative entities have yet to update their local laws. Much of Latin America currently allows abortion in limited cases - many use the "tres causales", and others allow for a broader set of reasons including mental health, economic constraints and social issues. Few countries allow abortion beyond the first three months. Brazil, the region's most populous nation with some 211 million inhabitants, currently allows abortion only with the "tres causales", specifically if the fetus is missing parts of its brain or skull. A Supreme Court case seeking to decriminalize abortion was filed in 2017 but remains on pause. Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela have limited access broadly aligned with the "tres causales", though many restrict it to situations where the woman's life is at risk, while pregnant women living in Central America and the Caribbean are broadly subject to stricter laws. Even in countries where abortion is legally permitted under certain conditions, barriers such as limited medical infrastructure, provider reluctance, and documentation requirements can make access difficult. In many cases, pregnancies must meet strict timelines or legal proof standards. Much of Central America and the Caribbean ban abortion in all or most cases. Countries with complete bans include Nicaragua, which ended exceptions even for life-threatening pregnancies in 2006; Honduras, where a 2021 constitutional amendment makes reversal unlikely; and El Salvador, which enforces some of the region's strictest penalties. El Salvador's constitution recognizes life from conception, and women have received decades-long prison sentences for abortion-related charges, even when advocates argue the cases were miscarriages or even newborn deaths. As of now, no women are imprisoned under these charges, but President Nayib Bukele has said he will not change the law. Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which share the Caribbean island on Hispaniola, ban abortion in all circumstances. Dominican activists are seeking legalization under the "tres causales" but efforts have stalled. In Haiti, a penal code that would have decriminalized abortion up to 12 weeks was delayed after the president's assassination in 2021. A worsening armed conflict has led to widespread sexual violence, a failing health system and mass insecurity, forcing many pregnant women to seek care across the Dominican border. Activists say pregnant Haitians have been targeted in Dominican deportations. In 2013, the Dominican Republic changed its law to revoke its nationality from children born to Haitian parents.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Footballer, 35, dies after suffering cardiac arrest on pitch just hours after sharing deep message about ‘soul and life'
A FOOTBALLER has died after collapsing on the pitch following a reported cardiac arrest - having shared a poignant message just hours earlier. Enzo Pittau, 35, the dad of a new baby girl, lost his footing several times before his collapse 41 minutes into a cup game. 2 2 Pittau was playing for Don Orione away to Club Union in Argentina's Chaco federation tournament. Witnesses say there was " and crying" as those nearby saw his fall and realised how serious the situation was. Media outlet Hechos y Derecho say Pittau was taken in a private vehicle to a hospital, where he died. The Chaco League star had played for numerous clubs in the area, also enjoying spells in Italy, Switzerland and Spain. Football in the area, north of Argentina capital Buenos Aires, is in mourning and shock following his death. A few hours before the match Pittau posted a touching message and photo on social media. He wrote: "The faith and God in between. Today we play with soul and life." Alongside those words was a picture of his football top and shin guards - which had photos of his new daughter. Pittau's club said: "With deep pain, we communicate the death of Enzo Pittau. We are shocked and affected by this loss. "We appreciate your solidarity and understanding in this difficult time for our club and Enzo Pittau's family." We were all in shock, the players and us in the stands. The match was stopped for a while and then suspended. Witness A witness told Diario Chaco via Contexto Tucuman: "I was in the middle of the match and Pittau fell to the ground. It was as if he had fainted. "I can still see it, and it's very painful. "Everything turned into chaos. People were running, screaming, crying, and yelling for help. "From the stands, we didn't really know what had happened, but it was awful." Another witness said: "I have this image of Pittau falling alone. I can't get it out of my head. "We're dismayed by what happened. "It hurts quite a bit. We were all in shock, the players and us in the stands. The match was stopped for a while and then suspended." Local media say Pittau had returned to Chaco to be near his family after his grandfather had health problems. Sunday's tragic match was the return leg in the second phase of the Argentinian Federativo tournament.
