THE Ministry of Health is assuring that steps will be taken to ensure that the country’s system of health is not compromised.
This was stated in a release on Sunday.
By today, (Monday, January 16, 2022), by law, pharmacists should pay their annual fees.
However, as a result of the failure by the Council of the Pharmacy Board of Trinidad and Tobago to issue to pharmacists who have paid the annual retention fees required, renewal practising certificates for the period January 15, 2023 to January 14, 2024, the Ministry of Health will be taken immediate steps to assist.
The Ministry of Health assured the public that all steps were being taken to ensure that the system of health care in the country is not compromised by the Council’s failure to issue such licences.
The ministry stated, “The Minister of Health will take immediate steps to make regulations temporarily extending the life of all practicing certificates previously issued to pharmacists for the period January 15, 2022 to January 14, 2023, to a period sufficient to enable consultation with the Council on the measures (which could well include the making of further Regulations) required to ensure that the current situation is avoided in the future.”
The ministry stated that it acknowledged the concerns expressed by members of the public and civil organisations over the situation and has attempted, through correspondence by its attorneys, to obtain from the board its undertaking and agreement to comply with the law under the Pharmacy Board Act and to issue the renewal practising
But to date, the Council of the Pharmacy Board has refused to give the requested undertakings.
By law, pharmacists have until January 15 each year to pay the annual retention fees required for the issue of their renewal practising certificates. Since, in 2023, January 15 falls on a Sunday, by law pharmacists have until January 16, 2023, to pay their annual fees.
