$63 million in expired drugs

In reflecting upon recent challenges regarding drug supplies in the country, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus asked the Nipdec representatives present about the value of expired drugs over the last five years.

“For six years we have approximately $63 million,” Austin said. Baptiste- Primus observed this was no small sum of money and asked Austin to explain how such a situation could have arisen.

Austin indicated that several factors were responsible for this. One factor, according to Austin, was that Nipdec did not have access to the inventories of the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).

She also identified brand loyalty was another factor and added, “without a nationwide health information system where we can see the inventory levels at the institution levels, we are actually in the dark.” Austin also said there have also been situations where drug shortages are not the result of the drugs in question not being available but where the drug is being stored, it is not being distributed equitably.

JSC chairman, Independent Senator Hugh Russell Ian Roach, expressed concern to Nipdec general manager David Benjamin that the company did not seem to be aware of the prices of drugs on the intenational market before it issued tenders for the purchase of drugs.

After explaining the tender process Nipdec uses, Benjamin said, “We are looking at opportunities of getting drugs directly from PAHO (Pan American Health Organisation).” He said the rationale for this was that PAHO purchases drugs in bulk and Nipdec could buy them at a lower cost.