There are many pharmaceutical challenges that Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, is concerned about. Among these are misuse of Antibiotics resulting in drug resistance, improper circulation and use of prescription drugs, drug quality on the market and expiry dates and outdated Pharmacy Laws and regulations. As such she is appealing for collective commit to exploring ways of circumventing these challenges rather than letting it hinder practice of local pharmacists.
The Minister was at the time addressing the 16th Annual Pharmacy Convention held at the Guyana Marriott, Kingston Georgetown. She in her remarks agreed that the theme: “Improving Patient Care through High Ethical Standards”, selected by the members of the Guyana Pharmacists’ Association for the Convention is a wise and apt choice.
In fact the Minister pointed out that enhancing the level of patient care as well as improving ethical standards in the delivery of service by Pharmacist are two areas of critical importance to the Health sector.
The one-day convention which was organised by the Guyana Pharmacists’ Association attracted some 200 participants both from private and public sector pharmacies; and students from the University of Guyana and the Ministry of Public Health, Pharmacy Programmes. Also participating were pharmaceutical companies from Guyana; Carlisle Laboratory Ltd. from Barbados and Federated Pharmaceutical Co Ltd from Jamaica who used the opportunity to display their products and services.
Lawrence encouraged the participants to treat their patients with respect and use the large window of opportunity to educate and advise them with the appropriate facts and thus contribute to improved quality patient care in our society. “Engage in discussions on lifestyle changes, healthy diets, on the need for physical exercise and the responsible and minimal use of alcohol and tobacco, the modifiable risk factors that fuel the non-communicable diseases that account for over 70 percent of all deaths in Guyana”, she said.
As she stressed the need for high ethical standards, she emphasized, “You are dealing with drugs and people and you have the responsibility to protect your patients at all times, to dispense the medication with the dosage required and not to take advantage of the patient financially or otherwise for your economic gains. This speaks directly to your value system, your accountability and transparency as you provide the essential health services.”