By Andre Bagoo
THERE HAS been an “intermittent supply” of some of the drugs used in the treatment of cancer, Government Whip Camille Robinson-Regis said yesterday. But she said if some drugs were not available, other equivalent drugs could be substituted.
Robinson-Regis, the Acting Health Minister, was replying to an urgent question from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Parliament. “It is acknowledged that there has been an intermittent supply at the nation’s hospitals of some of the drugs used in the treatment of cancers,” the Acting Health Minister said. “In the circumstances, the Ministry of Health, through the regional health authorities has adopted the following measures to effectively manage patients.” She said, “the Ministry is operating with a therapeutic protocol that has standardised patient care nationally and has provided the framework for the just allocation of drugs in a cost-effective manner for patients requiring oncology care.” She said, “for the patients requiring drugs that are in short supply, alternative regimes have been utilised to allow for treatment without compromising patient care and to ensure that citizens continue to receive the appropriate levels of quality care.” The Minister also said “For all the drugs that are in short supply, there is an alternative regime of comparable therapeutic efficacy.” She said the Ministry of Health continues to work with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the procurement of an appropriate supply of drugs for the public health system continues to remain in place.” The Government Whip said “just allocation” meant all patients who require treatment are justly provided with the appropriate drugs and there is no preferential treatment for any patient. In relation to a report that a student had been diagnosed with tuberculosis at the Siparia West Secondary School, Robinson-Regis said the information provided to her indicated that a second test of the student at the Caura Hospital of the student’s sputum did not support this diagnosis. She said a Mantoux test was done.
“The student, therefore, does not have tuberculosis,” Robinson- Regis said. On the issue of a plea by Aaron Narine’s family for help for him to get drugs needed to maintain his health in the wake of a kidney transplant, the Minister was also asked to give an update. “Firstly, I wish to apologise to the family of this young man for his personal records now being found in the public domain,” said Robinson-Regis.
“I have raised this issue with the relevant authorities and it’s a pity that his medical records are now open for national discussion.” The Government Whip continued, “Madam Speaker, that said, I wish to confirm that this patient continues to be a patient of the national organ transplant unit since 2010. The patient is dialysis independent and clinically stable.
All necessary treatment protocol has been continued and continues to be instituted to prevent organ rejection.
The national organ transplant unit continues to provide all the necessary information, advice and support to the patient and his family.” (Trinidad Newsday)
