The Medicines and Health Technologies Regulatory Agency (ARMED) announced yesterday that the commercialization and use of therapeutic milk F-75 and F-100, manufactured by New Cesamex, is prohibited, as it is different from that approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) . The difference is in the amount of proteins and high number of micronutrients, substantiating adulteration of the product, the use of which seriously harms the treatment of severely malnourished children, harming public health, according to a press release to which OPAÍS had access.
The general director of ARMED, Katiza Mangueira, advises, through order no. 025/ARMED/ MINSA/2023, of December 4, that all health entities that have therapeutic milks not approved by the WHO must carry out their identification, collection and return to the supplier. “Importers must carry out an inventory and withdraw products from the market and notify ARMED to comply with subsequent measures. It is reiterated that therapeutic milk purchased by the National Health Service must be distributed free of charge”, she explains.
Technicians from the General Inspection of Health Activities and the Inspection Departments of the Provincial Health Offices are called upon to intervene in this process, providing the necessary support to ensure compliance with the provisions of the aforementioned order. It should be noted that F-75 milk (containing 75 kcal/100 ml) is used during initial treatment and F-100 milk (containing 100 kcal/100 ml) in the rehabilitation phase of treatment of patients with severe acute malnutrition.
