The inspection plan includes pharmacies and drugstores nationwide and will verify that the labeled prices correspond to the approved list in force and, in addition, that they are those actually charged at the cash register.

The teams of the DNM and the Defensoría del Consumidor also verify the prices of over-the-counter medicines, as well as the good storage practices of the products with special attention to temperature, humidity and the validity of the establishment's authorization.

The actions of the technical teams of the DNM and the Defensoría del Consumidor are carried out in accordance with the powers established in the Ley de Medicamentos and Reglamento para la Determinación de los Precios de Venta Máximo al Público de los Medicamentos y su Verificación (RDPVMPMV).

Article 59 of the Law of Medicines establishes that: "Every medicine will have printed on its packaging its maximum sale price to the public, according to the specifications established in the respective regulation and its origin. The Directorate, in coordination with the Defensoría del Consumidor, will be in charge of verifying that the approved prices are complied with in the national market".

This new joint deployment contributes to prevent abuses against the rights and interests of consumers.

The joint operations begin in the area of the medical colony of San Salvador and are activated by the heads of both institutions: Noé Garcia Iraheta, national director of Medicamentos and Ricardo Salazar, president of the Defensoria del Consumidor (DC).

Translated by: A.M