Caption: Officials appearing before the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee. Photo: T&T Parliament

By Alicia Chamely

CHAIRMAN of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee Jagdeo Singh is criticising the Fair-Trade Commission for its “lethargic” handling of the Private Pharmacy Retail Business Association’s (PPRBA) report of an unfair monopoly in pharmaceutical supply and retail industry.

This after it was revealed that one company imports 74% of all medication prescribed in Trinidad and Tobago.

At Monday’s meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee the PPRBA President Glenwayne Suchit revealed that three large corporations dominated the pharmaceutical importer business, with the largest importer and supplier being ADVENTA, a part of the Agostini’s group of companies.

Suchit further stated that both Superpharm and M Pharmacy were also subsidiaries of the Agostini’s group allowing for vertical integration from distributor to retail.

He said this allowed for both Superpharm and M Pharmacy to sell their pharmaceutical products at a lower price than smaller, independent pharmacies.

Suchit noted that ADVENTA supplied 74% of the most prescribed and used drugs in T&T.

He said, “ADVENTA has positioned themselves to be controlling all the international drug houses, all the major ones, and all the major generic brands also. And over the last year, they have also been acquiring the generic brands from some of the small and medium companies. So basically, they are controlling everything that covers all critical illnesses in this country.”

Suchit noted there was a consistent pattern of pricing discrimination and refusal to supply.

Giving an example, he said, “During COVID pandemic, I’ll give an example here, ADVENTA was supplying Redoxon, and this was vitamin C, which was important as an immune booster during COVID. Pharmacies were denied this on the grounds that the accountant at a ADVENTA will not sell to pharmacies and take the risk of selling and not getting payment in time (2:07) and sell all to Superpharm. That is unfair trading.”

Reacting to these practices, Singh raised the issue of a submission of concern sent to the T&T Fair-Trade Commission (TTFTC) by the PPRBA.

Suchit said they submitted the TTFTC on September 6, 2024, and received a reply a week later September 13, 2024, acknowledging the recipient and requesting a “laundry list of information,” in order for a formal complaint to be made.

 

Singh admonished this report, stating the Commission had essentially “placed the onus” of investigation on the complainant.

Addressing TTFTC Executive Chairman Bevan Narinesingh, Singh questioned why, given the range of his statutory powers did he not immediately start an investigation, rather than placing the responsibility of filing a formal complaint and gathering vital information onto the PPRBA.

Narinesingh argued that procedurally a formal complaint needed to be filed, however Singh pointed out that under the statutory powers of the TTFC and Narinesingh’s position, with the evidence submitted by the PPRBA the TTFC had grounds to launch an investigation without a complaint being filed.

Reading the Act under which the TTFC operates, Singh said, the Act stated the TTFC was allowed to “investigate on its own initiative or at the request of any person adversely affected and take such action as it considers necessary with respect to the abuse of a monopoly power by any enterprise. Having come to that conclusion in June, what action have you taken on your own initiative?”

Narinesingh stated that the TTFC was without a board and therefore could not start an investigation without board approval.

Singh, however, admonished this again pointing out that no board approval was required as stated in the Act.

Singh questioned Narinesingh as to whether investigation had taken place.

Narinesingh stated he met with the Ministry of Health and Pharmacy Board but could not produce any minutes or copies of electronic communications.

Singh, who referred to the matter as one of “great national interest”, informed Narinesingh he was to produce all meeting notes at the next sitting of the Committee, which was scheduled for January 2026.