The Minister of Health says Government is taking steps to address pharmaceutical shortages, improve medicine storage and strengthen patient services.
During his contribution to the 2027 Budget debate in Parliament, Dr. Lackram Bodoe outlined plans to reduce wastage, accelerate drug registration and improve accountability across the public healthcare system.
Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe cited approximately 346 million dollars in reported wastage and said improvements to pharmaceutical management are being pursued.
“I’m going to tell you why there’s no drugs in the hospital, because of the money you wasted and the expired drugs. 2018, $12.9 million expired drugs. 2019, $23.1 million expired. 2020, $31.9 million. 2021, $49.7 million. 2020, $201 million. Mr. Speaker, this shows a total wastage value on expired goods and so on of $346 million thereabouts”
Dr Bodoe revealed plans to construct a centralised warehouse for pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical supplies. The Ministry is also updating the National Oncology Formulary to guide the procurement of cancer medicines.
Additional measures include a new patient feedback system to provide an avenue for complaints outside the existing Regional Health Authority structures, as well as an audit of diagnostic and radiographic equipment at public hospitals.
“Drug registration remains an important issue that we’re dealing with. In fact, Mr. Speaker, you might be aware of a Joint Select Committee in this very Parliament that has been raising this issue. And part of Cabinet has recently passed a National Reliance Policy for Medicines in Trinidad and Tobago, and this will allow us to accelerate the registration of drugs going forward.”
The Minister also confirmed that Cabinet has approved a national reliance policy for medicines, which he said will help accelerate drug registration in Trinidad and Tobago.