The Fiji Pharmaceutical Society (FPS) is calling for an urgent Government investigation into why the Pharmacy Profession Act 2011 and Medical Products Act 2011 were amended last year.
This comes after a prolific businessman in Fiji’s pharmaceutical sector, Umarji Aiyaz Mohammed Musa, was jailed for four years by a New Zealand court after being found guilty of importing and exporting illicit drugs.
The charges stemmed from the importation of pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter drug often used by laboratories to make methamphetamine, known on the streets as “ice”.
FPS president Reenal Chand said the case had cast a negative shadow on hardworking members of Fiji’s pharmaceutical industry.
Mr Chand also claimed that FPS had reached out to the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) in 2020 to investigate illegal ownership of pharmacies, however, they had not received any feedback on this.
“We have also called for the audit of the pharmaceutical medication that is being used to manufacture these illicit drugs and to explore a potential ban on this medication,” he said.
He said FPS had on numerous occasions in the past reached out to various authorities to investigate illegal activities and suspect ownership of pharmacies.
“We have also urged the authorities to now closely look at the damaging implications of this major news event and to step in to root out the cause.
“FPS stands ready to assist in any way we can. The names of good pharmacists have been dragged down by this incident and we wish to urge all of them to come forward and help the authorities.”
Mr Chand said the FPS also questioned the reason behind the change made to the pharmacy ownership law at the end of 2022, which allowed pharmacists to own five total pharmacies compared to two previously, amongst other changes made using Bills 43 and 44 of 2022.
“This particular change, we believe, harms individual pharmacy owners who are small enterprises. We urge law makers and authorities to consider investigating the purpose of these changes. According to FPS, there are over 90 private pharmacies in Fiji.
Mr Chand also reiterated the illicit drug problem in Fiji needed to be addressed without delay and with strong conviction to protect the vulnerable youth of the country.
“We understand the implications such actions can have on public trust and the image of our organisation and its members.
“Rest assured, we are taking immediate steps to address this situation and reinforce our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional integrity and ethical standards.”
Going forward, Mr Chand said FPS would also redouble their efforts to work with FCCC, the Ministry of Health, Fiji Pharmacy Profession Board and the Fiji Medicinal Products Board to implement additional measures to prevent any such incidents from occurring in the future.
Questions have been sent to the Attorney-General Siromi Turaga on the issue.
