The pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation-unproven COVID-19 (Ivermectin and HCQ remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a Caribbean Island)

This article seeks to highlight an aspect of the illegal pharmaceutical trade in the Caribbean. With the advent of COVID-19 there has been a shortage of a number of drugs in the formal sector. This is largely due to restrictions on foreign exchange, importation delays and sensationalized reporting o...

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Main Authors: Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj, Darren Dookeeram, Roger Hosein, Kelvin Ramkissoon, Amrica Ramdass, Darleen Y. Franco, Shalini Pooransingh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1353516/full
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author Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj
Darren Dookeeram
Roger Hosein
Kelvin Ramkissoon
Amrica Ramdass
Darleen Y. Franco
Shalini Pooransingh
author_facet Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj
Darren Dookeeram
Roger Hosein
Kelvin Ramkissoon
Amrica Ramdass
Darleen Y. Franco
Shalini Pooransingh
author_sort Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj
collection DOAJ
description This article seeks to highlight an aspect of the illegal pharmaceutical trade in the Caribbean. With the advent of COVID-19 there has been a shortage of a number of drugs in the formal sector. This is largely due to restrictions on foreign exchange, importation delays and sensationalized reporting of unrecommended drugs having a curative effect on COVID-19 patients. This article examines the issue of “the informal suitcase trading” of these drugs. It posits a need for a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach to mitigate the negative effects of the practice on health, trade and national security.
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issn 2296-2565
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Public Health
spelling doaj-art-6bb4bcb1425e4b44bc311edefca3950e2025-08-20T02:50:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-12-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.13535161353516The pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation-unproven COVID-19 (Ivermectin and HCQ remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a Caribbean Island)Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj0Darren Dookeeram1Roger Hosein2Kelvin Ramkissoon3Amrica Ramdass4Darleen Y. Franco5Shalini Pooransingh6Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoFaculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoFaculty of Social Sciences, Department of Economics, The University of the West Indies St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoIndependent Researcher, Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoThe University of the West Indies St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoDepartment of Family Medicine, North West Regional Health Authority, Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoFaculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoThis article seeks to highlight an aspect of the illegal pharmaceutical trade in the Caribbean. With the advent of COVID-19 there has been a shortage of a number of drugs in the formal sector. This is largely due to restrictions on foreign exchange, importation delays and sensationalized reporting of unrecommended drugs having a curative effect on COVID-19 patients. This article examines the issue of “the informal suitcase trading” of these drugs. It posits a need for a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach to mitigate the negative effects of the practice on health, trade and national security.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1353516/fullsuitcase tradepharmaceutical regulationhealth in all policypublic healthIvermectin
spellingShingle Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj
Darren Dookeeram
Roger Hosein
Kelvin Ramkissoon
Amrica Ramdass
Darleen Y. Franco
Shalini Pooransingh
The pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation-unproven COVID-19 (Ivermectin and HCQ remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a Caribbean Island)
Frontiers in Public Health
suitcase trade
pharmaceutical regulation
health in all policy
public health
Ivermectin
title The pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation-unproven COVID-19 (Ivermectin and HCQ remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a Caribbean Island)
title_full The pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation-unproven COVID-19 (Ivermectin and HCQ remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a Caribbean Island)
title_fullStr The pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation-unproven COVID-19 (Ivermectin and HCQ remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a Caribbean Island)
title_full_unstemmed The pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation-unproven COVID-19 (Ivermectin and HCQ remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a Caribbean Island)
title_short The pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation-unproven COVID-19 (Ivermectin and HCQ remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a Caribbean Island)
title_sort pharmaceutical suitcase trade and the need for multisectoral regulation unproven covid 19 ivermectin and hcq remedies unmask an insidious health danger in a caribbean island
topic suitcase trade
pharmaceutical regulation
health in all policy
public health
Ivermectin
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1353516/full
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