MINISTRY OF HEALTH STATEMENT: FIJI PHARMACEUTICALS HAS A BUDGET OF $37 MILLION
The Fiji Pharmaceuticals and Biomedical Services centre (FPBS) has a budgetary allocation of $37 million this year, to provide quality, safe and effective essential pharmaceuticals at affordable prices to customers and at affordable fees for private patients.
FPBS is a division of the Ministry of Health, responsible for regulating medicinal products.
It also serves as the commercial arm providing pharmaceutical supplies to external customers including other governmental departments, retail pharmacies, general practitioners, NGOs and small island states.
Currently, FPBS has $16million worth of pharmaceuticals to cater for any upsurge in medicine demand. It is well-stocked with no shortage of drugs.
The FPBS also has contingency plans in place to resolve any sudden gaps in supply of medicines.
Yearly, the centre purchases $10 to $12million worth of drug stock.
At the moment, FPBS has 3,557 items such as medicines, vaccines, surgical consumables (gloves, syringes, and cotton wool), dental materials, x-ray chemicals/films, lab reagents, mattresses, pillows, bed sheets, curtains and nurses uniforms.
This year, a drug registration program will be carried out to ensure products imported and marketed in Fiji are of good quality.
Furthermore, the bulk purchase scheme of FPBS assists the private sector access affordable pharmaceuticals as well as wholesale to health clinics in Fiji and Pacific Island countries.
The centre has a National Medicines Policy 2012 which looks at improving accessibility of affordable, quality, effective and safe medicines.
MINFO