The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune. AFTER reading the article in last Friday's (February 24) newspaper on "Insurance Board Issues Response To Drugs Claims", I am becoming more concerned about the safety of prescription medicines in our country. I have, from time to time, discussed with friends and family the health hazards faced by residents of other countries when I read reports about gray market and counterfeit drugs. I would hate to think that we, in the Bahamas, are exposed to inferior and fake drugs. I would hate to imagine that my parents, children, sister, brother, friend, or anyone else for that matter, is ingesting medications that may not help their ailment or could cause harm or even death! So these are my questions: * Are the drugs obtained from private pharmacies or from government clinics of high quality? * When I purchase from a private pharmacy, am I being ripped off? * What national system is in place to ensure that inferior and fake medicines do not appear on our local market? * What system is in place to punish unscrupulous people if they were caught selling inferior or fake medicines? I would feel comforted if the answers to the above questions would lead me to believe that the health of my family and friends is protected from substandard medicines. I don't think I am asking for much. CONCERNED BAHAMIAN Nassau, February 29, 2012.