A war is brewing between president of the Pharmacy Board of T&T Andrew Rahaman and one of its council members Ameena Ali over the delay in granting of licences to 20 pharmacies. Rahaman said the problem stems from the council of the pharmacy board having difficulty in convening meetings when appointees fail to attend. According to the Pharmacy Board Act, no less than five members of whom one shall be a member appointed by the Minister of Health or a member appointed by the Medical Board is necessary to constitute a quorum for a meeting of the council.
The council has ten members, six of whom are elected by the pharmacy body. The remaining four—Ameena Ali and Clinton Sahadeo were appointed by Dr Fuad Khan, while Dr Carol Bhagan-Khan and Dr Mitra Sinanan were appointed in May by the Medical Board. Rahaman said 20 pharmacy owners have been waiting on their licences. “Some of them have been waiting for six months.” Rahaman said an application has to be considered by the council of the pharmacy board. “We cannot just pick up and decide what is a quorum. The law tells us what is a quorum. So because we have to abide by the law we have to grant a licence after a quorum of the council meets. We are not getting the quorum to sit.” In the case of a new pharmacy awaiting a licence, Rahaman said that matter has to be considered, approved and granted.
Ali: What criteria was used?
Yesterday, Ali asked how come certain drugstores were granted licences in May. He said one drugstore in Montrose was opened after being given a renewal, even though there was no council meeting. Another in Sangre Grande also got its licence. “So tell me, if you are granting these people licences why don’t you give everybody above board. What criteria he (Rahaman) used to grant those licences in the absence of a meeting of the council?”
Khan: Games cannot continue
Khan said from what he understands Rahaman has been allegedly sending invitations to some of the appointees and not all. He said the problem has to be ironed out. “At the end of the day these kinds of games cannot continue.” Khan said the pharmacy board legislation does not give him much assistance in disciplining. He intends to amend this. Stating that this matter has gone too far, Khan said people should not be held to ransom by regulatory bodies. Admitting that his wife ( Bhagan-Khan) was appointed by the board, Khan defended her by saying she is a medical doctor. “Is this a conflict of interest? I don’t think this is. The medical board chose her, I can’t. I have no jurisdiction over the board.” Asked if his wife is paid a salary, Khan said she works “voluntarily to make the pharmacy board look good.”
Owner cries losses
Jean Rochard who owns Ready-Pharm Ltd in El Socorro and is waiting a licence for months now said he was at his wits end. Rochard said he has paid $36,000 in rent and is yet to open his business. Having pumped $250,000 into his pharmacy, Rochard said he has not made a cent thus far.