Costs of vital medicines have seen increases, says Minister of Health

Everywhere the prices of basic food items, goods, and services have increased in the last year. Those price hikes have also impacted the cost of vital medicines. Because those everyday medications have seen jumps in their prices, it only makes procurement more difficult. In speaking with the Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, he discussed the impact that the higher prices for things like aspirin, have had on the health system.

Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “There has been a significant rise in medication just like everything else cost of medication is rising and that’s the reason why there have been in some instances suppliers have to be requesting for price change because, especially those who work in those markets that their prices fluctuate in a daily basis supplies have to be juggling around and sometimes take huge losses because of this and we have had suppliers who have been able to take we need urgency we need some of the medications urgently they have flown in those at their own cost, at their own expense. And so I thank them for being at the end of the day they know the need of these medications and so they have been working along with us. But yes we have seen where and supplies have informed us that there have been a serious increase in some of these medications and it will only result in what we’re saying that it causes sometimes delays because you’re trying to source. And it’s not about sourcing the cheapest because you don’t want the cheapest you want quality and sometimes quality comes at a cost.”

Reporter: So Belize has felt the impact of price rising. And is this a continuing trend you’re seeing for 2023 ? 

Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “Well I mean that COVID has caused a lot of effects and we can definitely see where inflation and all of these are on the rise across the globe will only continue to affect us and everybody we all understand that and that’s one of the reasons why our suppliers – and again this is why we try to do the process early so that suppliers can lock in their manufactures to certain prices that is beneficial to both parties Government and suppliers themselves.”