Cost of prescription medication rises amid supply challenges

Barbadians have to pay more for prescription drugs because of supply shortages, and the Barbados Pharmaceutical Society (BPS) is warning that with the rising cost of living, people may have to choose between buying medication or food in the near future.

BPS president Yolan Pantin said even though the shortages are not at crisis stage, shipping challenges and other supply chain issues have been making it more difficult for local suppliers to source needed medicines.

That, she said, had led to an increase in the price of drugs.

“It is concerning because if we can’t get the drugs or if shipments aren’t arriving on time, we may run out of essential items for our customers and our patients. With price increases, patients may not be able to afford [medication] because we may have persons on a fixed income and they will determine whether they may buy food or medication, and that is what is worrying to me,” she told Barbados TODAY.

“So, you are on a fixed income, you go into the supermarket and you have to spend more for the same items. Your light, your water, your everything has gone up.

“All of that is taking your money. What is going to suffer? You may start to see persons shifting to what they can afford, and they may – which I hope never happens, but it may happen – . . . decide whether they are going to eat or whether they are going to purchase their much-needed medication,” Pantin added.

Making reference to a recent development in the United States where some people were rationing insulin because of the significant increase in the price of the drug, Pantin said the BPS did not want to see that kind of situation occurring here.

“But, then again, if people are on a fixed income something may have to give. What I would like is that if it ever gets to that, that our patients come and talk to us, because without them getting their medication and maintaining their health status, that puts more burden on our healthcare system if these persons have to end up in hospital or in a care facility.

“I would prefer that even though they may not be able to afford that they still come and speak to their pharmacists that they most likely have been going to for years, and let them know what is going on, because we are here to serve the public of Barbados and keep the health of our country at the highest, and our people as healthy as we can. Our part is to make sure that the medications that they need are supplied to them.

I would not like to see it come to that point where somebody has to decide whether they eat or whether they get the medication that they need,” she added.

Pantin noted that in light of what has been taking place on the international market, Barbadians are fortunate that the Barbados Drug Service has made provisions to allow pharmacists to purchase medication for hypertension, diabetes and other illnesses duty- and tax-free, to make the drugs affordable for patients.

“If we actually had to pay the price for these drugs, I don’t think anybody in Barbados might be able to afford medication, it would be that expensive. If you look at the prices overseas for these same medications, it is astronomical compared to what we pay here in Barbados. We are very lucky in that respect,” she said.

Barbados TODAY visited several pharmacies where pharmacists and owners reported an increase in the price of some drugs, and shared that they were out of stock of some items.

Pharmacist Enric Connolly at Maxwell Pharmacy pointed out that it was customary for stocks of some medications to run out in April, May and June.

However, he said, this was coupled with the fact that suppliers are operating in an environment where they are facing supply chain problems.
Connolly said Barbados, as a small economy, will have to look at how it can better negotiate with international suppliers who are supplying billions of dollars in pharmaceuticals to larger companies.

“We are just a small fish in the ocean. We can’t fight with multi-national companies on cost. One company said to me a few months ago, ‘what you all buy in Barbados we can sell to one pharmacy in New York, so if you all don’t like the price, do without it’. And that was as blunt as they were with us. Another company said, ‘look, there is a product that you all need, but it is not going to be available until 2023’,” he reported.

Meantime, Managing Director of RoundHay Pharmacy Everton Lashley said while some drugs were out of stock, he was not aware of any major shortages.

“We are still having a constant supply of medications and there is no major shortage as far as I am concerned. We have out-of-stock situations – some drugs are going out of stock,” he said.

Lashley said pharmacists had just entered new contracts with the Barbados Drug Service and some medications should be back in stock. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb