The Ministry of Health and Wellness has appointed a new Pharmacy Council that will be led by lecturer and pharmacist, Dr Ernestine Watson.
Other members of the council include pharmacist and production manager Hughroy Thomas, senior lecturer Dr Lisa Bromfield, and lecturer Dr Michelle Russell. Pharmacist and managing director Dr Tyrone Smith and business owner Dr Diane Newman-McKenzie were also appointed.
Additionally, the council will include pharmacist Rohan McNellie and attorneys-at-law Janeek Forbes and Donna Brown.
The newly appointed members will serve on the council for three years.
Jamaica was without a Pharmacy Council for more than two months due to delays in the approval of board members.
Portfolio Minister Dr Christopher Tufton shared with Our Today that the delays in appointing a new council stemmed from kinks associated with a new process to approve the appointment of members to boards.
The delay was heavily criticised by Opposition spokesperson on health, Morais Guy, who noted that several pharmaceutical graduates were not able to be certified due to the lack of a council. Guy urged the minister to fast-track the appointment process, stressing that the pharmaceutical graduates were needed to fill gaps in the industry.
The council’s responsibilities encompass registering pharmacists, pharmaceutical students, pharmacies, and pharmacy owners. Additionally, it oversees the training of pharmaceutical students, authorizes individuals as sellers of poisons, upholds standards of conduct for those registered under this act, and ensures adherence to the act’s requirements.
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