B.P.A. President: If You’re Doing It, Stop It, Or We Will Report You

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NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – The Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association sends a clear warning to those handing out illegal medicines to stop or face the consequences.

After a Tribune story recently uncovered the underground operation, the association is warning it’s members to steer clear, while calling on government to help intervene.

Our Joshua Williams tells us more.

Medicines are essential to doctors in patient treatment.

But illegal distributed is dangerous.

Last week the Tribune reporting an influx in prescription medicines entering the country through formal ports and informal channels – often from unverified overseas manufacturers, sold without prescriptions, proper labelling, dosage instructions or medical oversight.

This, raising alarm in the Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association – it’s President, Dr. Marvin Smith, says they’ve already begun meeting with their members.

“What they have been able to uncover is a serious issue that needs to be addressed? We met with our Pharmacy owners on Monday evening and we indicated to them that it’s critical that we do not condone this. We have to make sure the public knows and as pharmacist to be to our part to uphold the law.” – Dr. Marvin Smith

What’s perhaps even more troublin is that report revealing most illegal drugs enter The Bahamas from our neighbors to the South in Haiti.

“We know that as an underground distribution network for everything in this country, everything you can find in a regular store you can find underground right and because people get the red and black or red and yellow from so and so we need to find ways to shut this down and we call the government to provide the council with the inspectors that it needs full-time inspectors Omni with what they need to go out and do the things that protect the Bahamian public and also protect our profession” – Dr. Smith

If medicine is necessary to treatment, then why is a prescription necessary? Vice President of the Association, explains.

“For us to be a medical team to oversee your total healthcare sometimes a doctor may write something that we need to collaborate with the doctor on. It’s really in the best interest of the patients” – Dr. Rochelle Bastian

“We will not condone actions of a few to smear the good hard-working decent Bahamain Pharmacy owners these businesses that they have spent their time and money and energy to build up. You’re not gonna drag us down so if you’re doing it, stop it because if we find out we will report you.”