Tonight, the Pharmacists Association of Belize is commending Minister of Health Kevin Bernard for speaking out against those pharmacists who are misleading the public. According to the Minister, some pharmacies are turning patients away, saying that they do not have a certain medication in stock, forcing that patient to visit a private facility where they would have to purchase the meds at a much higher price.
However, in the same breath, the association is cautioning against what they call "the pointing of fingers." Essentially, they want to highlight that it's not all pharmacists who are engaged in this behaviour and in fact, most of them carry out their duties diligently and respectably.
They also note that there is an area of concern regarding quote: "undersupply, mismanagement and wastage of medications." It's a problem that, according to the pharmacists, leaves multiple families countrywide without recourse to obtain much-needed medications.
Their recommendation is a strong critical overhaul of operations at The Central Medical Stores and all hospitals and clinics it supplies. They've also called for quality control of medications which should quote: "Meet the quality standard of safety and efficacy." End quote.
