Opposition Parliament Member Colm Imbert has characterized the proliferation of expired pharmaceuticals within Trinidad and Tobago’s healthcare system as a substantial national concern. The revelation emerged during the opposition’s weekly media briefing on December 3rd, following Newsday’s report detailing parliamentary committee discoveries of $80 million worth of medicines deteriorating into uselessness over a decade in Ministry of Health storage facilities.
Imbert, drawing upon his tenure as health minister between 2001-2003, emphasized that this wastage problem demands comprehensive investigation. He identified a structural challenge facing smaller nations: international pharmaceutical suppliers allegedly compel local agents to accept excessively large shipments that exceed practical consumption needs, making expiration inevitable.
PNM political leader Penelope Beckles corroborated the systemic nature of these challenges after consulting former health minister Terrence Deyalsingh (2015-2025). Beckles noted the issues extend beyond expiration dates to include ongoing global debates about drug quality disparities affecting smaller island nations.
Imbert further alleged the current administration plans to radically alter pharmaceutical procurement by abandoning local suppliers in favor of importing generic drugs from India through government-selected agents. He claimed, without disclosing sources, that traditional suppliers are being deliberately starved of payments under the pretext of being PNM-aligned, potentially redirecting the nation’s $1 billion pharmaceutical expenditure through new import channels.