THE Government Analyst Food and Drug Department has seized a number of items following inspections of both private and public health facilities in Region 4.According to the department, from the inspections, 16 brands of prescription drugs/pharmaceuticals which were unregistered; 10 brands of prescription drugs/pharmaceuticals labelled in a foreign language; and 59 expired prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs/pharmaceuticals were seized.

In addition, several drugs/pharmaceuticals were seized and left on premises pending investigation on registration.

The seizures were made from visits to 16 community pharmacies, five importers’ bonds, six private hospitals and the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The inspection was aimed at ensuring that all drugs/pharmaceuticals distributed and used in both the private and public health care system are registered, safe, efficacious, of the requisite quality, and are distributed in accordance with the Food and Drug regulations.

The exercise stemmed from several complaints emanating from customers and proprietors in the industry relating to the trade, supply and sale of unregistered, improperly labelled, improperly packaged, and expired drugs and pharmaceuticals.

According to the Food and Drug Act 1971 and Regulation 1977, Regulation 78 states that every new drug/pharmaceutical must be registered, and Regulation 48 stipulates that all drugs/pharmaceuticals must be properly packaged and labelled.

“This exercise would be extended to other regions, and same would be continuous and ongoing to ensure that only safe, efficacious drugs of the best quality are distributed on our local market,” the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department has said.