Local HIV drugs may be exported to T&T - GINA
Stabroek News
June 9, 2004
The New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (New GPC) may soon be exporting anti-retroviral drugs to Trinidad and Tobago, according to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA).
Stabroek News was unable to confirm this report with the company but the GINA release on Monday quoted Quintin Dial of the Hand Arnold Distributing Company, Trinidad and Tobago, which distributes New GPC's products, as saying, "the prerequisite forms and documentation were submitted in February this year and it is expected that all the necessary tests, registration and paperwork will be completed by the end of 2004 so that distribution can start in 2005."
New GPC started manufacturing anti-retrovirals used to prolong the life of HIV/AIDS infected persons in 2001.
The GINA release said the quality of the anti-retroviral drugs produced in Guyana has been confirmed and recognised by the Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory and the London Laboratory Services Group, both of which have independently evaluated the drugs and found them to be of excellent quality.
According to the release, the Guyana government has offered to make the drug available to all Caricom sister states in an effort to reduce spending in their fight against AIDS.