Cuba, Mexico and Colombia on Wednesday (April 26) signed the ‘Declaration of Apaulco’ to establish the Latin America and Caribbean Medicines and Medical Devices Regulatory Agency (AMLAC).

This initiative is aimed at tackling the health challenges faced by Latin America and the Caribbean.

In a media release on Saturday (April 28), Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that: “The establishment of AMLAC seeks to achieve health self-sufficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Agency will be a mechanism that will contribute to regional integration through harmonization and convergence in health regulation, facilitating timely access for our people to safe, effective and quality medicines and medical devices.”

The Ministry added that Cuba the declaration recognizes the challenges faced by the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean in the health, productive, economic and social spheres, aggravated by the pandemic of COVID-19. 

“Cuba, which has consolidated expertise in sanitary regulation, will actively participate in the process of creating the AMLAC, convinced that its implementation will benefit the peoples of Our America,” the Ministry said.

The Latin America and Caribbean Medicines and Medical Devices Regulatory Agency (AMLAC) will serve as a regional body for Latin America and the Caribbean that helps to promote greater access to safe, effective medical equipment and medicines through a combination of regional regulations.