The Ministry of Health continues to spread the message of medicine safety by empowering the community through education.

Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services, Mrs. Gracia Wheatley-Smith said the role of educating the public regarding pharmaceuticals is of high priority for her office and that she believes that the complexities of pharmaceutical care can only be navigated through education and information sharing.

Mrs. Wheatley-Smith said, “To this end we have designed a number of resources to promote client empowerment in managing their pharmaceutical regimen which has the potential of positively affecting their overall health status.”

 Five brochures have been designed dealing with topics that address antibiotics and their importance to health, tips for safe medicine use, food and drug interactions, the rights of a patient and the dangers of counterfeit medicines.

“The goal is to empower patients to take control of their health,” Mrs. Wheatley-Smith explained.  The Chief is advising clients to always know the names of medicines and what they are treating.  Persons are encouraged to ask questions, read labels and follow directions, know the common side effects, store medicines correctly and keep a list of all medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

The users of pharmaceuticals are also advised to report any side effects to their medications. Persons interested in obtaining a copy of any or all of the publications can also contact Mrs. Wheatley-Smith at  telephone 468-9850 or via email at grwheatley-smith@gov.vg

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is committed to improving the health of the people of the Virgin Islands.