Guyana is looking to review several pieces of legislation as it seeks to deliver safe, timely and cost-effective drugs and medical products to its citizenry.

Along with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Public Health hosted a stakeholder consultation on Monday with the main aim of inviting commentary to guide the review of the Pharmaceuticals Acts and Regulations in Guyana.

The objective of participants over the next two days would be to review, strengthen and make current the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations; the Antibiotics Act and Regulations; the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Regulations; the Pharmacy Practitioners Act and the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.

But Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud believes the discussions would be timely to also address the question about nontraditional products that have made its way onto the market and are being advertised daily as remedies to cure and treat diseases like cancer, HIV, and diabetes.

Persaud said these products that boast of having therapeutic effects must comply with regulations in the Food and Drugs Act.

He invited discussions on the introduction of alternative medicines into professional health care practices and on the medical benefits to be derived from the use of marijuana.

The CMO welcomed the consultation, saying it will help to put in place more regulations to monitor and protect the population from abuse or misuse of pharmaceuticals while allowing timely and cost-effective access to medicine.

He is also concerned with the movement of pharmaceuticals across borders and called for more stringent enforcement of existing legislation.

“Sometimes we don’t need new law but by enforcement of existing legislation we can control abuse of medicine and the use of medicine indiscriminately,” Persaud said, adding that “this engagement comes at a time when there are a lot of problems that need to be addressed.”

Providing an overview of the Acts and Regulations, GPHC Board Chairpersons Kesaundra Alves also pointed to the importance of effective regulation of medicines.

She believes regulations promotes and protects public health by ensuring that medicines are of the required quality, safety, and efficacy.

It will also allow for medicines are appropriately manufactured, stored, distributed and dispensed and protects against illegal manufacturing and trade, allowing for same to be detected and adequately sanctioned.

It will also seek to ensure that promotion and advertising are fair, balanced and aimed at rational drug use, and access to medicines is not hindered by unjustified regulatory work.

PAHO/WHO said it is committed to the process of helping Guyana to review its Pharmaceuticals Acts and Regulations to achieve the desired objective.

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