April 23, 2020

In order to allow the importation of medicines and other products for human health, during the State of Emergency, the National Directorate of Pharmacy and Drugs (DNFYD) of the Ministry of Health, has issued Resolution 280 of April 6, 2020 published in Official Gazette No. 29008 of April 22, 2020, which establishes the temporary procedures for the importation, the release of batches, and the personal use permits for medicines and other products for human health during the state of national emergency.

1. For the import process, scanned (PDF) copies of the documents indicated below will be accepted without legalization, provided they come from countries affected by CoVid-19:

• Certificate of Absenceof diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol
• Certificate of Analysis of the biological productbatch
• Lot release certificate from the country of origin
• Certificate of negative result for HIV and Hepatitis
• Magnetic Resonance Certificate
• Certificate of Raw Material Analysis.

The aforementioned PDF documents must be accompanied by an affidavit signed by the pharmaceutical regent or legal representative. The originals must be kept available and available to the DNFYD, which will request them.

2. Electronic Documents will be allowed, provided the link for their verification is included.

3. For the process of releasing batches of biological products, the following documents should be sent to the email [email protected], for inventory verification:

• • Note to the National Director of Pharmacy and Drugs
  • Product Photo, showing the complete labeling (lot number, expiration date, health registry and manufacturer name).
  • Quantity of product in the warehouse to be released
  • Storage conditions
  • Photo of the lot to be released.

The aforementioned documentation is the responsibility of the pharmaceutical manager and / or the representative of the establishment and will be subject to review by the DNFYD.

4. Import Permits for personal use, the following documents will be sent by email in PDF format, to [email protected]:

• Note of request and release from liability to the DNFYD.
• Shipping guide
• Commercial invoice
• Copy of the personal identity document
• Prescription by a Panamanian physician

The aforementioned resolution takes effect on April 23, 2020 and will remain in effect for the duration of the national state of emergency.

March 25, 2020

Resolution No. 53960 of March 25^th, 2020 introduced a new article establishing a special procedure for the procurement of medical supplies during the ongoing. This new provision amended Resolution No. 38941-2006-JD of February of 2006, which is the general procurement regulation for the Social Security Administration (“CSS” for its initials in Spanish).

This article establishes that, during the current “state of emergency”, purchases will be made under this procedure as long as the CSS Board of Directors, expressly recognizes the state of emergency and establishes the allowable expenditure amount.

Any such procurement must also be formalized through written agreement, subject to countersignature by the Comptroller General of the Republic, as well as other standard procedural requirements (e.g., Good standing certificates from both the Tax Authority and CSS, Public Registry Certificate, Health Registry, etc.