Last night on the news, activist of many causes and colors Geovanni Brackett spoke out against the Ministry Of Health's strict regulations on pharmaceuticals.
Brackett said the The Food and Drugs Regulations of 2017 has made it so that Belizeans can't readily access the quality name brand drugs they want.
Today, we caught up with the Director of Health Services at another event to get his response. He said that Brackett's big show was a lot about perception and not much about fact:
Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services
"I think that it has to do with perceptions that people may have. I was expecting some substantial evidence to have been provided. I am taken perhaps a little aback by the fact that I think in two elements, there were statements that said that they patients were coming to other persons to voice their concerns, but not to the Ministry of Health which is the relevant authority that would be investigating any allegation or any notions that generic medications don't work."
Reporter
"Throughout the course of the years, we've found that people have been coming and saying the medication now isn't as effective as it used to be."
Dr. Marvin Manzanero
"Well, as I said, it may have to do with perceptions people say it is not as effective, I want to know how they are measuring effectiveness? I mean if people are telling me my diabetes medication doesn't work. Is it really the medication or is it the fact that the patient is consuming more calories, doing less exercise? It is multiple factors that are in there."
"If there is a concern then the patient should be able to say his is the specific medication and then follow the process. If there is any quality assurance situation, then we need to be made aware and then we will send that product for testing."
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