The press also took the opportunity to ask the Minister of Health about last week's revelation that the Drug Inspectorate Unit found street peddlers selling bogus pharmaceutical products.
A ministry press release announcing the discovery said these are bogus drugs that don't meet standards and could harm you.
In today's interview with Marin, he told the press that the Ministry personnel will be increasing its surveillance to try and detect other peddlers of illegal or fake medication. Here's how he explained why:
Hon. Pablo Marin - Minister of Health
"The first thing we're doing is starting to go in every area to pull out whatever is illegal, once they cannot show their proof of entry. They cannot prove that they have already registered the products, so that's the first thing. The second thing that we did, we're asking the Attorney General's Office to see how we can take those people to court. Right now, we had a situation - we just put it out there - we found in a pharmacy, there was a kit to test cocaine. I want to know what is happening the police department did come in, took that sample. But, I want to know what is happening with that because that is very illegal, and I want to know what is happening with that case. Our people already documented. They're doing the proper paperwork."
Reporter
"So, what can happen to these pharmacists? Do you just close down the pharmacy? What happens to the persons who are in charge there?"
Hon. Pablo Marin
"You see, through the Ministry, we can close them down, but right now, how the police department took it over, there is another jurisdiction that we have to - and that is where we need the legal minds to tell us what we need to do."
Reporter
"How was the Ministry able to detect this particular case?"
Hon. Pablo Marin
"We go to any location, whether we go to a drug store, we go to a commercial place, and we go to the market. And once enter, and we see these medications, and do ask them, can you give us a proof of purchase? You need a customs entry. Can you show us your license that you have to sell the medication? And then once you cannot prove that, we take whatever we found to our ministry, and we give you sufficient time for you to come back, and you can say you have it home. Once you can prove it, we have to give you back. But, if you don't have any proof, then we start the legal actions."
The Ministry is encouraging members of the public to only buy medication from licensed pharmacies.
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