Look again, Mr Rahael

WE EXPECT that Health Minister John Rahael will have a closer look at the Food and Drugs Amendment Bill which was passed in the House of Representativcs on Friday. He must seek to determine whether his UNC predecessor Dr Hamza Rafeeq is right in claiming that the bill will now require members of the public to obtain a doctor’s prescription before they can purchase over-the-counter drugs, such as Comtrex, Sudafed and Tylenol. This was the basis for Dr Rafeeq’s objection when he spoke on the Bill, raising public concern that readily available drugs providing relief or remedy for common ailments such as the flu will now be costlier and more difficult to obtain.

Subsequently, speaking to this newspaper, Minister Rahael gave the assurance that this was not really the case, that these drugs would continue to be available over the pharmacy counter and that the former Health Minister had misunderstood his presentation in the House. He pointed out that the Ministry’s Food and Drug Division is monitoring all pharmaceutical drugs coming into the country to determine which will require a prescription and which will not. In any case, the Minister added, whatever flaws the bill may contain would be corrected before it goes before the Senate. It seems to us, however, that instead of misunderstanding the legislation, Dr Rafeeq, who also owns a pharmacy in Freeport, is making a logical and valid point. The Minister, he argues, has been given bad advice and the legislation is creating confusion. Apparently, one  of the purposes of the Bill is to place the precursor drug pseudoephredine under control. And since this drug is found in a wide range of over-the-counter medications, including such flu remedies as Sudafed, Comtrex and Tylenol, it is logical to assume that these will now come under control, which means they will no longer be obtainable over the counter and will have to be prescribed by doctors.

Such a change would impose hardships on the public, especially poor persons, who would now be required to consult a doctor for a prescription for a simple headache. It would also result in an increase in the price of these drugs because pharmacists would now be required to keep records in respect to the trade in them. So who is right, the current Health Minister or his UNC predecessor? If the bill controls pseudoephredrine will it not become illegal to purchase tablets and syrups containing this drug over the counter? While we are glad to accept Minister Rahael’s assurance, we would be happier if he would explain this paradox  to us. The key to solving this confusion, as the ex-Minister points out, may be the varying quantity or strength of pseudoephredine found in different medications, the level of which will determine whether the drug should be sold over the counter or require a doctor’s prescription.

The public would be pleased to know that the Health Ministry’s Food and Drug Division is keeping a close eye on drugs entering the country, particularly in light of the competition among pharmaceutical companies. Patients and the public have come to accept medication largely by faith, depending on the relevant authorities to protect them from harmful drugs. On the other hand, relief provided by common, tried-and-tested drugs should be readily available.