THE Ministry of Health has named the members of the Pharmacy Council of Guyana Board who began serving a term which started on April 1, 2026, and ends on March 31, 2028.
They have been identified as Dr Karishma Jeeboo – Chairperson, Ms Mary Ramsaroop – Vice-Chairperson, Ms Shundell Seymour-Williams – Council Member, Ms Carol-Ann Lam – Council Member, Ms Zoe Grenville-Forde – Council Member, Ms Kalawattie Datt-Singh – Council Member, Dr Erica Ward-Butters – Registrar/Secretary, Mr Sookdeo Singh – Ex-Officio Member
Dr Narine Singh – Guyana Medical Council Representative, Mr Khame Sharma – Consumers Association Representative and Ms Nakesha Cosbert – Legal Representative
According to a press release, the main functions of the Pharmacy Council, according to the Pharmacy Practitioners’ Act 2003, are to regulate the practice of pharmacy in accordance with the Act; establish, maintain, and develop the standards for the practice of pharmacy; establish, maintain and develop standards of professional ethics among members of the pharmacy profession; publish, distribute and disseminate in a manner that the council thinks fit, literature and information relevant to the pharmacy profession; conduct mandatory continuing educational sessions for practising pharmacists; establish, maintain and develop an internship;
register pharmacists, practising pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, and pharmacy interns; and perform such other duties as may be necessary in the discharge of its functions.
The press release added that pharmacists and members of the public can expect strengthened pharmacy inspections to verify licence validity, pharmacist presence, approved practice hours and locations, and compliance with professional requirements, expanded continuing education opportunities, including exploring the use of the Ministry of Health’s virtual learning platform to improve access for pharmacy professionals outside Georgetown and in hinterland communities, improved verification of foreign-trained pharmacists’ credentials, including qualifications and letters of good standing, through a reliable and independent verification mechanism, review of the Pharmacy Practitioners Act 2003 and its regulations to strengthen registration controls, include the changing roles of pharmacy professionals, support the introduction of a forensic examination and address the recognition of equivalent and foreign qualifications, improved internship programme offerings for pharmacy interns to include trained preceptors and additional internship sites beyond clinical practice roles and continued collaboration with pharmacy professional bodies and educational institutions to strengthen advocacy, professional development, and support for pharmacy professionals.
The Council will establish functioning committees, guided by the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, to advance these priorities during its two-year term, the release added.
