Officials authorized the importation and sale of 72 rapid tests without the evaluation studies
Mexico.- Officials of the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) son investigated by the Ministry of Health because they authorized the importation and sale of 72 rapid tests to detect the coronavirus Covid-19, which did not receive evaluation studies, as required by law.
According to the Proceso magazine, the Undersecretary of Health Hugo López-Gatell revealed that Cofepris and the federal health agency gave a hearing to the Internal Control Body of the first agency, for the 72 authorizations that were granted to serological tests for coronavirus.
This investigation aims to clarify why sales permits were issued without the legal requirements being met, including the reliability studies carried out at the Institute for Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference.
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Black market for medicines, vaccines and protective equipment against coronavirus emerges
Process also explained that a black market for medicines, vaccines, tests and protective equipment against the coronavirus Covid-19, in which the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) and the Michoacan Family would be involved.
The media cites the National Council for Private Security. Its owner, Raúl Sapien, explained to the weekly that the smuggling and counterfeiting of medical protection equipment such as N95 or K95 face masks, which are sold in flea markets and informal trade points, emerged.
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In addition, drug theft was strengthened in Jalisco, Michoacán, Puebla, the State of Mexico, Nuevo León and Guerrero. And the sale of illicit merchandise is led by CDMX, Tamaulipas and Chihuahua.
López-Gatell acknowledged, according to the article published by the magazine, that the black market is a problem for everyone, previously facilitated in Mexico by years of government corruption.
In the CDMX they apply rapid tests of coronavirus to detect cases promptly, at kiosks distributed throughout the city. Also in Jalisco and Nuevo León these tests are applied.
López-Gatell will take control of Cofepris and 12 units as of August 20; publish agreement
With process information