The National Emergency Operations Center (COUN), while welcoming international solidarity following the earthquake of August 14, reminds humanitarian and philanthropic institutions that they must comply with the regulations relating to the granting of authorization for receive drug donations.

The Minister of Public Health stresses that the management of expired drugs represents a public health problem for Haiti, due to the lack of technology for adequate destruction, recalling that the disposal of expired drugs has cost 22 million dollars Americans to the Haitian State, after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

The Ministry specifies that it will not provide authorization to donor institutions that do not comply with the guidelines for granting developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in this area. These institutions must, among other things, give the complete list of drugs to be received and warn donors that bottles or jars of drugs already opened are not accepted in Haiti.

In addition, they must ensure that the expiry date of drugs is not less than twelve months from receipt in Haiti, except in very serious emergencies, and that no substance marketed for less than five years is part of the donation received, except in emergency cases. It is imperative to wait for the approval of the Ministry before sending anything.

In addition, the COUN warns health professionals who arrive in the country without first reporting to the competent authorities in the sector. Aid, particularly in the health sector, will not be effective if the profile and the number of volunteers arriving in Haiti do not match the needs of the health response in the field.

IH/ iciHaiti