Concern over overseas donations of medicines


Guyana Chronicle
November 15, 2000


OFFICIALS are worried that medicines donated by overseas groups for use here do not sometimes meet safety guidelines.

As a result, the Government Analyst Food & Drug Department (FDD) has issued guidelines for the donation of pharmaceuticals from private individuals, groups and organisations.

Director of the department, Ms Marilyn Collins yesterday noted that while Guyana like many developing countries welcomes humanitarian relief, especially during periods of disaster, it turns out that a major portion of what is received is not of the required quality and safety for intended use.

About 30 per cent of the pharmaceuticals determined as being useful may contain a limited shelf life of between one to two months, she told the Chronicle.

Noting that FDD officers usually spend long hours sorting out the medicines, Collins said the situation is compounded because the system in place is not geared for rapid distribution.

She said the department is considering instituting fees for its services, as a lot of time is generally spent on the entire process which includes inventorising the pharmaceuticals before these are distributed.

Additionally, transporting, storage and disposal of unwanted items incur some amount of economic implication for the recipient, she said.

The guidelines to be observed by donors and recipients are:

** All drugs must arrive in Guyana with a minimum shelf life of at least six months to one year.

** Prior to importation, the FDD should be provided with a list of the donated items which should include the name and addresses of manufacturers, batch numbers and expiry dates.

** No drug should be provided that is not on Guyana's Essential Drugs List/National Formulary without prior approval from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

** All drugs provided should be obtained from a reputable source and a World Health Organisation (WHO) Certification Scheme on the quality of pharmaceutical products moving on International Commerce should be used. A Batch Certificate of Analysis should also accompany each batch of the donated drug.

** Drug labels must confirm to the label requirements of the Food and Drugs Regulations 1977 of Guyana, including adequate directions for use in English.

** No drug should be donated that was issued to a patient and returned to a pharmacy in the donor community.

** Drugs should be donated in their original containers and should not be transferred to bulk containers as is a customary practice of/some agencies.

** Recipients of donated medicines must ensure adequate storage conditions for such medicines which should be under the direct control of a pharmacist or medical practitioner.

Collins said the guidelines would allow the department to use its scarce manpower in other areas of drug control and satisfy its mandate to give assurance to the efficacy and safety of drugs on the domestic market.


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