That event gave us an opportunity to ask Dr. Angel Campos, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, about a rumbling we've heard in the pharmaceutical community.
7News has learned that 25 year-old Chrystal Samouge, a junior pharmacist, has been installed at the Ministry's Chief Pharmacist. We're told that she is the Ministry's former assistant procurement manager, a post she held for less than a year. Information to 7News is that before that, she worked as a regular pharmacist at Belize Medical Associates, and some of her colleagues have grumbled that she is much too inexperienced to be holding a such a senior post.
We asked Minister of State Campos about it, and he told us that he couldn't offer any real insight on how she got the job:
Dr. Angel Campos, Minister of State, Health
"Well I am the Minister of State responsible for primary healthcare and NHI and I do believe that that part is with the Minister of Health, Minister Pablo Marin. He is the one that does that part of the work in the ministry. So I just support his decision. I really can't get into details, but it would be best of you ask the Minister."
Reporter
"We were hoping you'd be able to address the concern that there are those pharmacists who believe that she is not qualified enough. That she doesn't have enough experience. She is a junior pharmacist appointed to very senior post. It is a consideration that the ministry made?"
Dr. Angel Campos, Minister of State, Health
"Well I think the technical advisors are the ones that got together and did their due diligence, so we at the ministry as ministers we do usually do that type of micromanaging. So all we do is whenever they gives us that recommendation we just decide to continue with the recommendation."
Reporter
"But is it a concern that can be taken onboard, at least considered that these are professionals who work in this particular field and are concerned that somebody who is not, they believe, qualify has been elevated to such a senior post?"
Dr. Angel Campos, Minister of State, Health
"Well we listens to all concerns and if it is for the benefit of the Ministry of Health that we continue with her or if we see that it is not a benefit, then we do our due diligence as well."
We'll keep pressing for answers.
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