Uruguay hosted the sixth edition of Best Practices in Pharma Supply Chain at Criolla Elías Regules, reinforcing its status as a key player in the regional pharmaceutical industry. The event was organized by Uruguay XXI, the National Logistics Institute (INALOG), and the Uruguay Pharma Hub group, which includes several multinational laboratories such as Adium Pharma, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, MegaLabs, Merck, Pfizer, and Roche.
The gathering attracted more than 300 participants from various sectors including executives, regulatory authorities, logistics operators, laboratories both national and international, and academic representatives. Discussions focused on challenges in the supply chain sector such as technology adoption, sustainability practices, and workforce development.
A panel on female leadership featured executives from major pharmaceutical companies. Magdalena Furtado from UN Women moderated the discussion about women’s increasing participation in strategic roles within the industry.
Government officials attended to show their support for the sector. President Yamandú Orsi was present along with Ministers Cristina Lustemberg (Public Health) and Fernanda Cardona (Industry). The event had been declared of National Interest by the Presidency.
Mariana Ferreira, executive director of Uruguay XXI stated: “the pharmaceutical supply chain is one of the engines of the Uruguayan economy, with more than US$1 billion in transit and 6,500 direct and indirect jobs.” She added that Uruguay provides “a solid, stable ecosystem with adequate incentives to continue consolidating the country as a regional and global pharmaceutical hub.”
Emilio Rivero from INALOG said: “The laws on free trade zones, free ports, and free airports, combined with infrastructure and connectivity make Uruguay a benchmark for the regional distribution of medicines and vaccines.”
Analía Pazos (Roche), speaking for Uruguay Pharma Hub group commented: “Six years ago we dreamed of a different space to unite leaders authorities and academics to share best practices. Today Uruguay is proud to have an innovative secure and reliable logistics hub. We must continue working on infrastructure talent and innovation to project ourselves to the world.”
Minister Lustemberg described this moment as “a turning point in integration between health and industry.” She noted that while Uruguay’s health system is robust there are ongoing needs for investment: “We are betting on a qualitative leap with more resources for innovation and technology. And we need laboratories to accompany this process because we are a serious country that guarantees the right to health as a state policy.“
Minister Cardona called pharmaceuticals “an absolutely strategic industry for Uruguay accounting for 11% of industrial GDP and 1% of overall GDP.” She also pointed out that many jobs in this field require high skills levels with strong female representation.
Lustemberg emphasized women’s growing influence: “Today we see women leading transformation processes in a key industry and Uruguay does not want to be left behind in gender equality,” he said.
Cardona highlighted public-private cooperation: “It is also the best example of how public-private partnerships generate impactful results that we must replicate in other industries,” he said.
Alejandro Ferrari from Uruguay XXI explained why international companies select Uruguay: “Uruguay is positioned as a business and innovation hub with regional distribution trading and shared services platforms. We offer reliability transparency world-class infrastructure preferential market access and a growing innovation ecosystem.”
He cited human capital benefits due to institutional stability; Montevideo leads Latin America’s quality-of-life rankings. In recent years migration has increased—over 40% have tertiary education—which boosts available talent for local industries.
The Uruguayan pharmaceutical sector now comprises over 100 companies alongside specialized suppliers; it produces nearly US$500 million locally annually exports more than US$270 million per year; transits goods worth over US$1 billion through its territory; all contributing significantly over three decades’ sustained growth.
As Analía Pazos summarized: “logistics applied to health is much more than a technical process: it is about improving and saving lives. And Uruguay is prepared to lead that process in the region and worldwide.”
