The Unified Biochemical Confederation of the Argentine Republic,

CUBRA, was created in 1982 as a result of merging the two main biochemical national organizations, the Clinical Biochemist Confederation of the Argentine Republic (1954) and the Argentine Biochemical Confederation (1971). It has legal status and is a non-profit organization integrated by provincial organizations (federations, associations and colleagues). CUBRA and its member organizations will not have political, racial or religious discrimination. CUBRA is recognized by the health authorities of Argentina as the only National Representative of all Clinical Biochemists in the country.

Structure

CUBRA is governed by its Executive Commission, which in turn carries out the decisions made by the Confederation Assembly, which is the supreme body. The Confederation Assembly comprises representatives of all provinces and holds meetings on a monthly basis. The Executive Commission has a President, Vice-President, Secretary, pro-Secretary, Treasurer, pro-Treasurer, 4 nominal members and 4 substitute members. The term of all positions is 2 years, and occupants of these positions can be re-elected. The EC appoints members to several committees that are responsible for specific issues, i.e. education, scientific, private work rules and awards, etc.

Objectives

CUBRA promotes scientific, professional and social biochemical improvement through activities designed to improve professional training. CUBRA preserves and defends the legitimate professional interests of biochemists within the government, public or private institutions, universities, and the private sector. It seeks to establish links with other national and international professional health institutions.

Professional activities

The manner in which CUBRA meets its objectives is determined by the characteristics of the objectives. For example, CUBRA seeks to assure employment opportunities and adequate salaries for Clinical Biochemists, particularly within the Social Security System that, in Argentina, comprises private, national and provincial organizations. For another example, CUBRA promotes the use off centralized purchase of consumables and reagents, which helps Clinical Laboratories to keep the cost of analyses down. Other services for Clinical Biochemists include malpractice insurance, as well a coverage system for highly complex surgery. Such coverage is available to family members and employees of the laboratory.

CUBRA has participated in the creation of the National Commission of Biochemist Certification, COCERBIN. This commission is integrated in the Coordinator Body of Academic Units of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, CUBRA, Legal Colleges and other organization.  COCERBIN is intended to harmonize the certification of all biochemists using the same standards. A score system was created to assess the activities of each professional in training and keeping up with new and technology.  

CUBRA participated in 2004 in Argentina�s first National Survey of Health and Nutrition. This participation consisted of the networking of the country�s laboratories to perform blood tests. The External Quality Assessment for Clinical Laboratories of the Argentine Biochemical Foundation, of which the executive committee CUBRA is a member, standardized these laboratories.

Educational activities

Historically, a primary concern of CUBRA has been the education and scientific prowess of biochemists. Educational opportunities are made available through courses, seminars, workshops and national and international congresses. In Argentina, as well in most countries of the Latin-American region, the Clinical Laboratory is multidisciplinary, performing testing in all areas of what is called Laboratory Medicine: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology including Coagulation, and Microbiology as well Quality Control and Quality Management. Currently, a program of remote learning is running in combination with the Universidad del Litoral.

Scientific activities

Since 1991, CUBRA has organized through its provincial organizations, the National Biochemical Congress that is held every other year. This Congress is held in different provinces each time to encourage the   participation of local colleagues. For this purpose, the Confederation Assembly assigns the organization of the Congress to one of the provincial organizations that is a member of CUBRA. The Scientific Commission of CUBRA works together with the local Scientific Commission of the Congress in the preparation of the scientific program. CUBRA has made the journal Acta Bioquimica Clinica Latinoamericana the official scientific journal.

Relationship with other organizations

CUBRA is interested in developing relationships with national and international organizations, with matching objectives for the profession. To this end, CUBRA is a founding member (1971) of the Latin-American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry that has had 6 presidency, including the current one.

CUBRA also has been a member of IFCC since 1971, being one of the first Member National Societies in the Latin-American region. At the national level, CUBRA is a member of the General Confederation of Professionals of the Argentine Republic.

CUBRA will continue working towards better health care, collaborating with the National Health authorities, and promoting excellence in professional services to the community.