Pharmacists outraged over manner in which a new post was created and filled for Director of Drug Inspectorate in the Ministry of Health (MOH). Danini Contreras, daughter of Erwin Contreras, is reportedly the director in question.

1. March 11, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
On Tuesday March 4th, a news item on Plus TV® titled "New Favoured Position in Ministry of
Health Causes Problems" astonished the members of the Pharmacy community and its
representative body, The Pharmacists’ Association of Belize (PAB). This news item represented
the very first time that individuals in the industry became aware of the newly created and already
filled position of Director of Drug Inspectorate in the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Belize is plagued with a myriad of issues related to the quality of pharmaceuticals. These issues
pose numerous direct threats to the health and safety of the people of this country. As a
professional body, the Pharmacists’ Association of Belize has for years, advocated for an
inspectorate unit that is supported by appropriate legislation. We would welcome and fully
support any genuine effort by our Ministry of Health in this direction, but insist that such a unit
be properly created, equipped and staffed by persons suitably qualified, and that the necessary
laws be enacted and enforced to give the requisite authority to personnel of such a unit,
empowering said unit to carry out their duties effectively and in the best interest of the people of
Belize.
However, the facts before us today are:
Fact 1: A person has been hired as Director of the Drug Inspectorate
Fact 2: This person has no working experience in any field – including pharmacy
Fact 3: This person has no knowledge of the Pharmacy Programme in Belize
Fact4: This person has recently acquired a Bachelor in Science Degree in Chemical
Pharmaceuticals
Fact 5: This person is not registered as a Pharmacist under the Chemist and Druggist Act,
Chapter 311 of the Laws of Belize
Fact 6: This person lacks the specialized training required to carry out duties necessary in the
Drug Inspectorate position.
As an association we find it disrespectful and discouraging that once again the Ministry of
Health has chosen to make a mockery of our profession. In recent years we have had to lobby
and fight to ensure persons seeking to practice pharmacy in Belize are properly evaluated. This
undertaking provided some assurance that such practitioners were equipped to provide safe
services to the people of this country. As indicated above, the PBA has submitted numerous
revised versions of legislation, again to ensure safe and effective pharmaceutical services to the
people of Belize. Now, to have a position of such importance created in secrecy and filled by a
person with reportedly strong paternal political ties, is one more indication that the MOH has no
real desire to support and strengthen the practice of pharmacy in Belize. There is the urgent need
to ensure that such a position be filled following clear and transparent processes and to remove
any suggestion of political interference or other conflict of interest.
One would presuppose that filling a position such as this, would follow the guidelines of the
Public Service Commission. However, our research indicates that the individual hired was done
so under the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme; and again not approved through the usual
and expected channels of the governing board of that program. The shroud of secrecy in which

2. the current Director of Inspectorate was installed and the obvious lack of experience and training
of this individual, leads us to believe that either the Ministry is setting the individual up for
failure or they are only interested in having a glorified rubber stamp in such a key position. We
strongly suspect that the latter would be the case. Hiring someone based on some preferential
political agenda and under a speculated NHI contract is an act in futility that is not only costing
the tax payers but calls into question the integrity of the NHI program. This contracted person
under NHI will and has no authority over the general practice of pharmacy in the Private sector,
but only over those establishments providing services for NHI. As such this newly established
post does nothing to address the problems associated with counterfeit medications, prescription
medications sold over the internet, selling over-the-counter and prescription items without a
licensed Pharmacist and the importation of sub-standard pharmaceuticals.
The Pharmacists Association of Belize (PAB), as a duly registered body and as advocates for
safe and effective pharmaceutical services, demands that clear, transparent and relevant
processes be employed when carrying out actions purporting to improve Pharmacy Practice in
Belize.
Therefore, the Pharmacists Association of Belize demands that:
1. the situation of the post of Director of Drug Inspectorate Unit be immediately rectified
2. proper procedure be adhered in the creation and filling of the post
3. an entire unit be created to realistically carry of the necessary work
4. the unit be properly equipped with suitably trained personnel
The Pharmacists Association of Belize as representatives of its members wishes only that the
profession of Pharmacy in Belize be properly strengthened following established standards of
practice. As stated in previous correspondences, we are calling for reforms, better
communication between ourselves and the Ministry of Health as well as open consultancy,
transparency and professional advocacy. As integral members of the healthcare team we seek to
have systems in place that promote safe and effective health services for the people we serve.
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