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The conference is largely sponsored by pharmaceutical importers - Belize;'s own version of "big Pharma."
They're about to come under a new regulatory regime after last week's cabinet brief details that approval was given to enhance oversight of pharmaceutical products in Belize by repealing the Food and Drug Registration Licensing and Inspection Regulations to meet current needs and ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines.
We asked the Director Public Health and Wellness about this today, and she says that they have already begun the lengthy process of revising the act.
Melissa Diaz Musa, Director, Public Health and Wellness
"Well many of our regulations in health have been they are very much outdated there is nothing in essence that we can say is wrong with it but we have got to ensure that we update our regulations in order to strengthen that governance aspect that regulatory aspect that the ministry of health and wellness should hold so in order for us to regulate certain drugs and certain practices in health we have got to ensure that we move with the times and we update our regulations as well from a lot of these very antiquated old regulations from 1930s to 1920s because a lot has changed and a lot has progressed in health so we got to move with the times. I would just like to highlight that the food and drug regulations does not only encompass the ministry of health but it's also a big regulation that talks about food a generally as well so we have removed the health part and we went to cabinet to ask cabinet approval for us to do it so the regulations have not been completed we have only started to work on it so this isn't something that you will see a new food and drug regulation next week it's a process and we have partners that come together to work to update it."
Reporter:
"Who are those partners and do you guys have a timeline?"
Melissa Diaz Musa, Director, Public Health and Wellness
"Well we have the drug inspectorate unit they are the main persons looking at it and we also have the help from PAHO and the drug inspectorate unit will also involve stakeholders like the pharmacy association and the BMDA. We try to consult as much as possible before we finalize on any new regulations."
