The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL local pharmacies have joined forces to warn the public about the dangers of illegally selling prescription medicines, rolling out flyers and social media campaigns after a recent Tribune investigation shed light on the issue.

Barbara Wilson, former Bahamas Pharmacy Council chairman and director of a pharmaceutical wholesale, is among those leading the effort.

She told The Tribune yesterday that she came up with the idea to promote flyers on social media to educate the public, knowing its reach and influence.

“I’m good at getting people's attention,” she said, “and I figured ‘okay, well here's an idea.’ and I was the one that gave them the first flyer, and then, you know, about four or five of them eventually said this is a good idea.”

She said many other pharmacy operators have also been exploring ways to assist in the effort to curb the illegal sale of prescription medicines, including talk show appearances and newspaper advertisements.

The move follows a Tribune investigation that exposed how easily powerful drugs are being sold over the counter without prescriptions.

The Tribune’s investigation showed that prescription medicines are entering the country through formal ports and informal channels, often from unverified overseas manufacturers, and being sold without prescriptions, proper labelling, dosage instructions or medical oversight.

In response, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has committed to long-promised legislative reform to clamp down on the practice.

Mrs Wilson welcomed the move, saying reliance on credibility and trust is no longer sufficient.

“I do believe that we have come to a point now in the country, in my opinion, a lot of it is even because of international forces, that we have no choice now but to regulate the market in some way. It's been pretty unregulated and I believe the time has come for a lot of reasons,” she said.

She said strong laws, clear protocols and effective oversight can help curb illegal practices, even if they cannot eliminate them entirely.

She said many people mistakenly view the illegal sale of prescription drugs as harmless, unaware that it is against the law and can pose serious health risks.

She added that frustration with long wait times and overcrowding in the public healthcare system often drives patients—many of whom already know their diagnoses—to seek medication without prescriptions rather than go without treatment.

“Maybe if we could get to the bottom of that in the country and figure out a way for people to be able to see doctors without the long waits because a lot of times they don't have money, they can't go to a private doctor,” she said. “And then they go to some pharmacy and plead their case, and then somebody may just try to help them  out out of the goodness of their heart, but really, it's illegal.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry added that it is working with the Bahamas Pharmacy Council and other agencies to ensure reports of illegal dispensing are investigated and addressed, and urged members of the public to report suspected breaches.