Montano, Gopeesingh in Senate spat

OPPOSITION SENATOR Dr Tim Gopeesingh yesterday charged that there were inefficient systems to monitor the increasing number of pharmaceuticals entering Trinidad and Tobago and called for the establishment of a private hospitals board to monitor the administration of pharmaceuticals in private health institutions and nursing homes. During his contribution to the debate on the Food and Drug Amendment and Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Amendment Bills 2004, hhowever, Gopeesingh had to be cautioned repeatedly  by Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal for clashing with Legal Affairs Minister Danny Montano. The minister criticised  Gopeesingh several times about not sticking to the legislation at hand.

While Gopeesingh thanked Health Minister John Rahael for amending the legislation to ensure that over-the-counter pharmaceuticals would not be placed out of the reach of poor people, he claimed not enough was being done to monitor the massive influx of pharmaceuticals entering TT due to globalisation. Gopeesingh also wondered whether enough was being done to monitor the supply of drugs to the nation’s pharmacies — public and private. The temporary Senator said the resources available to the National Drug Advisory Committee needed to be increased and there should be an “active private hospitals board” to monitor the supply and use of drugs in private health institutions — particularly nursing homes. Gopeesingh noted claims by the Medical Professionals Association of TT about critical drug shortages in the country and also alleged that the percentage of monies allocated to pharmaceuticals in the national budget was decreasing steadily over time.

He claimed that out of the $1.86 billion allocation for health in the 2004/2005 Budget, only $135 million was set aside for pharmaceuticals and $27 million of these monies was allocated to the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP). Referring to the schedules listed in the bills, Montano consistently argued that Gopeesingh was not being relevant regarding the debate at hand. The minister said there was a clearly defined list of drugs in the schedules and Gopeesingh should stick to them. Gopeesingh countered that it was not his problem that Montano could not discern what he was saying. The UNC Senator was cautioned by Baboolal that there was no reason for him to be insulting and she agreed with Montano that Gopeesingh was walking “a thin line” where his statements on pharmaceuticals were concerned.

The UNC Senator also questioned the effectiveness of herbs and generic drugs being imported into TT for treating certain ailments. He lamented that no one seemed to know the types and quantities of drugs available in TT and the reliance on British and regional systems to determine that. Attorney General John Jeremie told Gopeesingh the relevant laws were being consolidated to address the concerns he raised, but in the meantime the consolidated index of the relevant legislation could provide an alternative. Independent Senator Basharat Ali called for better monitoring mechanisms for pesticides such as gramoxone. Independent Senator Dana Seetahal endorsed the amendments in the legislation but said mechanisms have to be instituted to ensure that the law could be enforced.