The Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy says an article in the Stabroek News of July 10 on page 10 headlined `Health Minister defends NGPC purchases’ with the sub head `-but moving to also buy from overseas bodies’ gave the impression that all drugs and medical supplies are at present being procured from local companies.

“The truth is that the Ministry of Health has always procured goods from both local and international agencies. This policy was in place before 1997”. The ministry requested that Stabroek News correct that part of the story to accurately reflect the minister’s oral presentation at a press conference on July 9 and the written version of the statement.

In response, Stabroek News Editor Anand Persaud said that the news item had reflected in several parts that the Ministry was indeed still purchasing drugs from other sources including from overseas. He said the article dealt primarily with the purchases that were being made from NGPC and the fact that the ministry will seek to have those purchases made not only from NGPC but the International Dispensary Agency (IDA) of Holland and others as clearly stated in the minister’s statement at the press conference as follows.

“Still, in order to avoid the perception of non-response by the Ministry of Health, we have requested a renewal of the decision permitting the Ministry of Health to procure medicine and commodities from IDA, PAHO/WHO, UNICEF and NGPC”.