A staggering $80 million worth of pharmaceuticals intended for Trinidad and Tobago’s national healthcare system expired over a decade-long period while sitting in Ministry of Health storage facilities, raising serious concerns about accountability and systemic inefficiencies within the country’s medical supply chain.
The alarming revelation emerged during Monday’s sitting of Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), where officials highlighted critical failures in drug management protocols. Committee members emphasized the urgent need for strengthened oversight mechanisms to protect public health resources and ensure taxpayer funds are properly utilized.
Hasmath Ali, Chief Chemist and Acting Director of the Ministry’s Chemistry Food and Drugs Division, acknowledged the severity of the situation while stressing the non-negotiable requirement for rigorous due diligence in pharmaceutical management. “Due diligence is required to ensure the safety of the population. In circumstances that relate to health, there is no argument from me on that,” Ali told committee members.
Independent Senator Dr. Marlene Attz expressed profound concern over the massive financial loss, questioning whether systemic “lethargy” throughout Trinidad’s healthcare infrastructure contributed to this accumulation of expired medications. She suggested incorporating laypersons into oversight committees to provide fresh perspectives and enhanced accountability measures.
Ali clarified that while the expired drugs fell under the responsibility of a separate procurement and distribution entity, the Ministry recognized the necessity of addressing these systemic shortcomings. In response to the crisis, officials revealed plans to modernize operations through legislative updates to the Food and Drugs Act and digitization of drug registration processes.
North Central Regional Health Authority CEO Davlin Thomas provided additional context, explaining that regional health authorities don’t control procurement decisions. “The issue is not with the procurement process itself, but with how these drugs are managed upon arrival and how they are distributed,” Thomas stated, emphasizing that demand-based procurement originates from public need rather than RHA recommendations.
An anonymous senior RHA official described persistent challenges in inventory management that contribute to pharmaceutical surpluses. The source cited difficulties in accurate forecasting, short decision-making timeframes, and consumption patterns that often differ significantly from procurement orders. Compounding these issues are staff shortages, procedural delays, and strict disposal policies that prevent repurposing drugs nearing expiration.
Despite these challenges, the official noted gradual improvements through enhanced training programs and stricter monitoring protocols, resulting in decreasing expiration rates in recent years.