CHIEF Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, said the oral morphine must be administered based internationally established standards and regulations, as he responded to claims that cancer patients were suffering as a result of a lack of access to oral morphine.

In a Stabroek News article headlined, “Cancer Patients suffering due to lack of access to oral morphine – Beacon Foundation head,” published on October 15 2019, it was stated that the organisation’s inability to access oral morphine through the Ministry of Public Health has resulted in many of its cancer patients suffering pain.

But the CMO said the article and claims therein are a misrepresentation of the facts.
“The ministry, as a part of its free public health program, provides care and treatment to all cancer patients throughout Guyana at Public Health Facilities in accordance to the norms, standards and regulations governing healthcare services.

Under these conditions the ministry and the public health facilities routinely provide all the diagnostic and chemotherapy services needed by persons affected by cancers. The ministry, in addition, partners with the Cancer Institute of Guyana, private hospitals, private practitioners, and to some extent, the Beacon Foundation, in facilitation of radiation treatment and some aspects of palliative and home care for patients with cancers,” the CMO said in a statement on Thursday.

He noted that there is an arrangement in place for the provision of available narcotics substances (including all forms of Morphine) and other pain management medication based on the established regulation of these controlled substances. As such, he made it clear, that as CMO, he will provide these medications based on the existence of the correct conditions for safe and efficacious administration of all narcotic substances.

“Guyana, on July 15, 2002, became a signatory of to the Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs, 1961 and as such, falls within the regulatory framework of the convention. As a party to the convention, Guyana assesses all necessary narcotic medication based on an assigned quota. The obligation by the Government of Cooperative Republic of Guyana, represented by the Ministry of Public Health, requires that an approved system for importation, storage, sale, use in manufacturing and as treatment of all accessed narcotic drugs must be regulated,” Dr. Persaud stated.

He noted too that all narcotic drugs must be prescribed by a fully-registered medical practitioner, dispensed by a registered pharmacist and administered by a registered nurse.
The CMO further pointed out that in the “Yellow List” of Narcotic Drugs Under International Control, all pills containing morphine (morpheridine, morphine, morphine methobromide, morphine-n-oxides and all other derivatives of morphine and codeine) are controlled drugs.
“It is therefore clear that all morphine preparations are governed by these provisions. The ministry is cognisant of the fact that prescription medicine abuse is a growing problem and like with other regulated medicines that are availably freely on the market like antibiotics, misuse can lead to dangerous resistance and in the case of narcotics, devastating addictions,” the CMO explained.

On the matter of short supplies, he informed that the ministry, due to the expanded range of clinical services including more advanced surgical procedures and palliative care throughout Guyana, submitted an application in 2018 to the International Narcotic Control Board for an increase in the annual quota of narcotics for Guyana and to expand the range of such items both in chemical compound and formulation (injectable, tablets, liquid and other forms).

“The ministry…concerned by the statements of the Beacon Foundation which erroneously gives the impression that oral morphine can be given without the necessary control measures in place, in violation of the obligation of the state,” Dr. Persaud said.

On behalf of the ministry, the CMO is seeking a retraction of the damaging public statements. “The ministry assures members of the public, including persons affected by cancers, that it will do all that is necessary and essential to ensuring that there is access to high-quality healthcare which is safe and free from any risk or complication to the society,” he said.