Hon. Ann Peters, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, has called for the establishment of a National Drug Regulatory Authority that can influence policies on drugs and other health related policy issues.
Minister Peters made the call while addressing pharmacists, nurses, doctors and other stakeholders at the beginning of a national workshop on “Combating of Counterfeit Medicines (Fake Medicines) and Pharma-covigilance (watchfulness in respect of dangerous medicines). The workshop began this morning at the Grenadian by Rex Resort.
“Today I want to give you the government’s full commitment to take this matter seriously and to establish a national drug regulatory authority to influence decision making on drugs and other health related policy issues as it relates to medicinal uses. Pharma-covigilance and all drug safety issues are relevant for all whose life is touch in anyway by medical intervention”, said the Minister of State.
According to Mrs. Peters, the pharmaceutical industry has primary responsibility for the safety of medicines and the protection of the public. She said the widespread manufacturing and sale of counterfeit and sub-standard medicines can potentially have adverse reactions.
The Minister also pointed to the increase in the use of traditional and herbal medicines, cautioning that there can be adverse reactions with other drugs.
Mrs. Peters reassured the participants of the Government’s commitment and endorsement of the specific aims of Pharma-covigilance. These are to improve patient care and safety, improve public health and safety and to contribute to the assessment of benefits, harms, effectiveness and risks of medicines by encouraging safe rational and more effective use. She said this will promote the understanding, educational and clinical training on Pharma-covigilance and its effective communications to the public.
The Minster’s sentiments were also endorsed by Manager of the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Services, Mr. Francis Brunette, who added that the astute vigilance and systematic documenting and responsibility to report any and all forms of adverse reactions is of paramount importance to the safety of all.
He guaranteed stakeholders that given the political will Friday’s exercise can pave the way forward to the establishment of the National Drug Regulation Authority, which will be the first in the entire region.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Services which is responsible for the pool procurement of all government’s medicines.
