Posted on 24 December 2008.
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 592
“Medicines are double-edged weapons. During a meeting last week, officials found that fake medicines are strongly invading Cambodia. The Ministry of Health, the parent or the administrator of this sector,] has not any significant achievements responding to the size or the spread of fake medicine trafficking, or of unqualified medicines.
“The Cambodian government created central and provincial committees to eliminate fake medicines and illegal health services in 2005. So far, by late 2008, the highest health institution has changed ministers, from Minister Nuth Sokhom to Minister Mam Bunheng, but there is no positive change in the prevention of fake medicines’ trafficking. Moreover, the fact that there is not much debate about the problem, means that it is an opportunity for fake medicines to extend their influence.
“It is reported that not much is done to curb the use and the speculation with fake medicines in the provinces, while at the central level, it is completely quiet. During more than three years, the central committee met only once in 2006, after there had been some encouragement from non-government organizations.
“How many types of fake medicines has the Ministry of Heath found? Where do those types of fake medicines come from? What are they? Was information about them was published for the public? Were warnings published in time? Or are they first waiting until the merchants have sold all medicine, only then publish something in order to make a good impression in the public? Did the central committee create strategic plans to handle this problem? If it did, were evaluations conducted? How many times was information about the results given to the Royal Government?
“The import of fake medicines into the country causes countless losses. Fake medicines do not care whether they affect ministers, parliamentarians, doctors, customs officers, police, the rich, the poor, soldiers, teachers etc… Not only the users are affected, but also those who are not users may have problems.
“Health experts said that the Cambodian Mine Action Center tries to clear mines, traffic police try to enforce traffic laws, civil society organizations try to appeal to demand the protection through the resoect of human rights…, but fake medicines are more cruel than mines and more dangerous than traffic accidents along the roads; it is a serious abuse of human rights… But no one is interested in such danger, including the expert institution – the Ministry of Health. It is not because the expert institution does not know about it, but it is suspected that it is - because benefit sharing with medicine companies - the central committee now keeps silent. [Also, because the relevant ministries did not respond.]
“Unlike the quietness of the central committee, other institutions focus on this dangerous problem. Non-government organizations and international organizations, like INTERPOL, had encouraged the central committee to be active again, but it seems it has no effect.
“Besides fake medicines, a big danger are also the many illegal clinics [clinics operating without license];tese too harm citizens’ health. Illegal clinics are not just like persons who sell drugs secretly so that police cannot see it, but these are illegal clinics with big banners along main roads in cities and in various towns. Therefore, if the Ministry of Health has the intention to check these illegal clinics, it is not difficult. But it seems that the Ministry of Health has no intention to do so. It is said that expert officials of the Ministry of Health receive thousands of dollar monthly from those illegal clinics.
“Not just illegal clinics need to pay monthly bribe-fees to officials of the Ministry of Health, even for the imports of material it is necessary to pay to official of the Ministry of Health. To sum up, officials of the Ministry of Health know the evil merchants of fake medicines and those illegal clinics like their own palm.
“It is expected that the Minister of Health, Mr. Mam Bunheng, will be strong enough to solve the two important problems mentioned above, in order for Cambodia to join the efforts to alleviate poverty together with the Royal Government of Cambodia.”
Chakraval, Vol.16, #2836, 23.12.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 592
“Medicines are double-edged weapons. During a meeting last week, officials found that fake medicines are strongly invading Cambodia. The Ministry of Health, the parent or the administrator of this sector,] has not any significant achievements responding to the size or the spread of fake medicine trafficking, or of unqualified medicines.
“The Cambodian government created central and provincial committees to eliminate fake medicines and illegal health services in 2005. So far, by late 2008, the highest health institution has changed ministers, from Minister Nuth Sokhom to Minister Mam Bunheng, but there is no positive change in the prevention of fake medicines’ trafficking. Moreover, the fact that there is not much debate about the problem, means that it is an opportunity for fake medicines to extend their influence.
“It is reported that not much is done to curb the use and the speculation with fake medicines in the provinces, while at the central level, it is completely quiet. During more than three years, the central committee met only once in 2006, after there had been some encouragement from non-government organizations.
“How many types of fake medicines has the Ministry of Heath found? Where do those types of fake medicines come from? What are they? Was information about them was published for the public? Were warnings published in time? Or are they first waiting until the merchants have sold all medicine, only then publish something in order to make a good impression in the public? Did the central committee create strategic plans to handle this problem? If it did, were evaluations conducted? How many times was information about the results given to the Royal Government?
“The import of fake medicines into the country causes countless losses. Fake medicines do not care whether they affect ministers, parliamentarians, doctors, customs officers, police, the rich, the poor, soldiers, teachers etc… Not only the users are affected, but also those who are not users may have problems.
“Health experts said that the Cambodian Mine Action Center tries to clear mines, traffic police try to enforce traffic laws, civil society organizations try to appeal to demand the protection through the resoect of human rights…, but fake medicines are more cruel than mines and more dangerous than traffic accidents along the roads; it is a serious abuse of human rights… But no one is interested in such danger, including the expert institution – the Ministry of Health. It is not because the expert institution does not know about it, but it is suspected that it is - because benefit sharing with medicine companies - the central committee now keeps silent. [Also, because the relevant ministries did not respond.]
“Unlike the quietness of the central committee, other institutions focus on this dangerous problem. Non-government organizations and international organizations, like INTERPOL, had encouraged the central committee to be active again, but it seems it has no effect.
“Besides fake medicines, a big danger are also the many illegal clinics [clinics operating without license];tese too harm citizens’ health. Illegal clinics are not just like persons who sell drugs secretly so that police cannot see it, but these are illegal clinics with big banners along main roads in cities and in various towns. Therefore, if the Ministry of Health has the intention to check these illegal clinics, it is not difficult. But it seems that the Ministry of Health has no intention to do so. It is said that expert officials of the Ministry of Health receive thousands of dollar monthly from those illegal clinics.
“Not just illegal clinics need to pay monthly bribe-fees to officials of the Ministry of Health, even for the imports of material it is necessary to pay to official of the Ministry of Health. To sum up, officials of the Ministry of Health know the evil merchants of fake medicines and those illegal clinics like their own palm.
“It is expected that the Minister of Health, Mr. Mam Bunheng, will be strong enough to solve the two important problems mentioned above, in order for Cambodia to join the efforts to alleviate poverty together with the Royal Government of Cambodia.”
Chakraval, Vol.16, #2836, 23.12.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment