Pharmacy Board not worried about dexamethasone hoarding

THE Pharmacy Board is not too concerned that dexamethasone, a steroid drug announced by UK researchers as a combatant to the covid19 virus in serious cases, will bring any threat to its demand and supply locally.

President Andrew Rahaman told Newsday on Friday that while it is a prescription drug, it can also be accessed over the counter at the discretion of a pharmacist.

He said, “It is a prescription drug by law but because we do not account for it like antibiotics and narcotics, and because of the prevalence of things like asthma in TT, pharmacists usually use their discretion in dispensing it.”

The added concern of hoarding and incorrect use of the drug came after Ministry of Health officials earlier this week said that without professional medical direction the drug can cause grievous harm. It was announced by UK researchers that dexamethasone can assist in the treatment of serious covid19 patients, which led to the immediate authorisation by the British government to the use of the drug across the UK.

With this new data available globally, Minister Terrence Deyalsingh urged citizens not to take the drug hoping it will protect them from contracting the virus and to desist from hoarding it.

Rahaman said although the drug was cheap, it was highly unlikely that people will start panic buying and storing it because of the limited data on the effects to treat with the virus at an early stage.

He said, “We do not have to worry much about the people who are in the late stages because they will be in the hospital receiving the necessary treatment.

“I would like to dissuade the people in the early stages from purchasing it because of the lack of data and the side effects it may pose. It is a pharmaceutical steroid and only when there is an indication for it that it should be used.”

Rahaman said pharmacist should avoid dispensing the drug without the proper prescriptions and called of the health ministry to regulate its distribution.

“There are certain doctors who are involved in the treatment and management of covid19 in the public sector and there should be a coordinated effort to control dispensation. I am suggesting that the MoH coordinate who are the doctors to prescribe it.”

On Friday, Newsday did survey via telephone in San Fernando and environs to find out if there was an increase in sales for dexamethasone, to which all pharmacists indicated there was no change in sales, but people were asking about how it works.

Pharmacist at Valini Drug Mart Sarah Balkaran said, “A lot of people have been asking if it really works and if it can be purchased without a prescription. I do fear that people will try to hoard.

“There should be proper regulatory mechanisms for this drug because of the associated side effects.”