The Paraguayan pharmaceutical industry already accounts for around 70% of the medicines consumed in the country, in an ongoing modernization process aimed at expanding competitiveness and opening up space in foreign markets. The information was released by Luis Ávila, secretary of the Paraguayan Pharmaceutical Industry Chamber (Cifarma), who highlighted the sector's weight in the national economy.
According to Ávila, companies in the sector have been earmarking a significant share of their profits for upgrading industrial plants, incorporating new technologies, and meeting international quality standards. These investments, he said, strengthen local production capacity and ensure supply to the domestic market while creating export opportunities.
Beyond drug manufacturing, the sector has a multiplier effect on other production chains. According to industry data, each medicine produced in Paraguay drives activity in at least five complementary industries, including manufacturers of glass packaging, plastics, cardboard, raw materials, and printing. "Local drug manufacturing has a very significant spillover effect on other branches of the economy," Ávila stated.
In terms of employment, the pharmaceutical industry generates approximately 8,500 direct jobs, most of them linked to technical and specialized professional profiles. Added to this workforce are more than 45,000 indirect jobs in supply, logistics, and services associated with production.
The sector's expansion is also driving demand for skilled labor. The adoption of new technologies, quality processes, and regulatory requirements increasingly calls for trained professionals in fields such as chemistry, pharmacy, engineering, biotechnology, and quality control.