Only the consumers can bring an end to the sale of expired goods, particularly medical products.
This is the view of the former Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who explained that without consumer vigilance and refusal to purchase such products, the problem will persist.
The Food and Drug Analyst department has over the years been battling the sale of expired goods, but once these products are discovered and removed from the shelves, not much can be done to prevent them from returning there and being passed over the counter into the hands of unsuspecting consumers and some deliberate ones who prefer to pay a few dollars less.
In an invited comment, Dr. Ramsammy said the Ministry of Health in any given country cannot enforce the law to have expired products off the shelves.
Hence it is all in the hands of the consumers who have to report such cases.
He explained that more has to be done at the level of the Health Ministry to improve the quality and standard of products on the market.
In advising consumers, Dr. Ramsammy explained that when purchasing medical products consumers must check for the business license and a license from the Food and Drug Analyst Department. It is safer he said to purchase such products from a licensed outlet. [Nickhail Jaundoo]
