Pharmacists’ impasse nears end

This was the word yesterday from the President of the Pharmacy Board of Trinidad and Tobago Wazir Hosein following a special general meeting of the Board at the Professional Centre Building in Port-of-Spain. In an immediate response, Health Minister John Rahael said he was happy to learn of the pharmacists’ decision to continue to serve the population while their matters are being resolved.

Speaking with Newsday after the meeting, Hosein said the population will "see the commitment of pharmacists" at the nation’s public health institutions. Recalling that the board has intervened because the pharmacists’ impasse had reached "crisis proportions," Hosein said he was optimistic that discussions with Rahael last week had started the healing process and trust among all the stakeholders was critical to moving the process forward. "You need to get a certain amount of trust in the system," he said.

Hosein said the fundamental issue in this entire scenario has been the inability of the Health Ministry and the Regional Health Authorities to attract and keep trained local pharmacists in the system over the last 31 years. He said had these issues been properly addressed over time, "we would not have been in this situation." Hosein said it was unfortunate for the Filipino pharmacists to have come to TT to provide a service and "subject them to that." He added that the board will meet tomorrow to deal with all matters pertaining to the Filipinos’ registration and thus far those matters "are proceeding smoothly." Rahael said he looked forward to the local and Filipino pharmacists working together to improve health care delivery to the population.

Hosein also said a follow-up meeting with Rahael will take place, after a reclassification meeting between the Public Service Association and the Chief Personnel Officer on Thursday. The Pharmacy Board has also requested a meeting with Prime Minister Patrick Manning to discuss long term continuity and strengthening of TT pharmaceuticals services. Hosein said the board is awaiting word from Manning as to when that meeting will take place.

Hosein also called on Government to outline a clearly defined policy for the manufacture and distribution of Total Perenteral Nutrition (TPN) which is used for premature babies. He said right now TPN is only manufactured at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex and there was no reason why similar facilities could not be established at the nation’s other major public hospitals.

Hosein said there were mixed responses about the 25 percent responsibility allowance offered by Cabinet for local pharmacists to supervise the Filipinos and the board was awaiting further information on this matter.