Updated legislation needed to address complaints of drug shortages – Health Minister

Sep 19, 2017 News

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In order to address complaints about there being drug shortages in the local health facilities, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, said that there needs to be an overhauling of the out-dated legislation governing the sector.

Lawrence made this remark at a consultation held on updating Guyana’s pharmaceutical sector at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston Georgetown yesterday. The theme for the event was “Strengthening Pharmaceutical Management and Services through Medicines Policy Review and Implementation.”
The Minister said that the outdated legislation is constraining the pharmacy sector in Guyana. She said that updating the legal framework is critical to help deal with the endemic complaints emerging nationally about there being a short supply of drugs to treat patients.
Lawrence told the attendees that unless corrective measures are implemented swiftly, the health system will continue to be defective and ineffective.
“It means, therefore, that the existing policies, legal and regulatory frameworks and interventions must be re-evaluated and updated. Policy decisions must be evidence-based and tailored to meet the specific needs of our population and health services, she offered prescriptively.”
The Minister pledged that the government, through her Ministry, is committed to ensuring healthy lives and the well-being for all Guyanese, regardless of age.
“So it is opportune and imperative that all of us as stakeholders of our citizens’ well-being, continue to look and assess the existing Management Systems and strengthen them and make changes where need be, so that the systems can become efficient and effective and accessibility and adequacy of the supply of safe, essential, quality and scientifically sound drugs and medical products can be realised in all health facilities, in all regions.”
Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, said that a revised medicines policy will reflect a goal and a guide for action by a national health authority.
He said that it will express and prioritise the medium and long term goals set by the government for the pharmaceutical sector.
He said that the policy provides for a framework within which the activities of the pharmaceutical sector can be coordinated and will cover both the public and private sectors.
Further, Dr. Persaud said that an updated policy is required to present a formal record of values, aspirations, aims, decisions and medium to long terms commitment of the government and to define the national goals and objectives for the pharmaceutical sector.
In order to meet these objectives, the CMO said that a fresh policy will help to identify the strategies needed and actors responsible for implementing the main components of the policy, while creating a forum for national discussions to resolve issues and allow access to medicine.
Following the event, a steering committee was appointed to review the National Medicines Policy in Guyana.
In her address at the 16th Annual Pharmacy Convention held at the Marriott Hotel yesterday, Minister Lawrence said that in her Ministry’s Vision 2020 the improvement of Primary Health Care is top priority.
“It is quite heartening to know that the Guyana Pharmacists Association has prioritised this area of care and is exhorting all its practitioners to be cognizant of these fundamental objectives…
Fundamentally, to my mind, it involves the level of satisfaction that a patient derives from the interaction that he has with the medical personnel concerning his medical condition and the treatment he receives.”
She added that apart from dispensing prescribed medication to patients, pharmacists are the middle person between patient and doctor and is therefore a key individual.
Lawrence indicated that a pharmacist interacting with the patient goes a far way since a clearer picture is had as it relates to having a better understanding of the patient’s condition.
She added that in some instances a person is saved the trip to the emergency room by simply consulting with a pharmacist.
“We may complain of feeling unwell, but make the decision not to consult the doctor, but to visit the pharmacist and relate the symptoms that we have experienced. Based on his knowledge and experience, the pharmacist advises us and dispenses medication that brings relief and so prevents a trip to the emergency room.”
She stressed the importance of high ethical standards. She said that standards influence all aspects of an organisation and if members act contrary to the best practices, the image of that institution is tainted.
“You are dealing with drugs and people and you have the responsibility to protect your patients at all times, to dispense the medication with the dosage required and not to take advantage of the patient, financially or otherwise for your economical gains.
This speaks directly to your value system, your accountability and transparency as you provide the essential health services”.

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