M.O.H.: Viagra illegally manufactured in Belize
According to local pharmacists, it’s one of the fastest selling pharmaceutical products in Belize: Viagra. The little blue pill that promises big results for the sexually challenged is a hot commodity and a lucrative business venture, with even Belizean registered companies getting into the mix. But those companies might be breaking some rules… and that’s what the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. is trying to find out. Today, News 5’s Patrick Jones jumped on the bandwagon.
Ads like these are popping up everywhere on the internet these days, but when a report circulated in the United States last month that a batch of generic Viagra and Lipitor exported from Belize, was being recalled, we thought it warranted further investigation. And what we found is highly stimulating.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
“Press reports in the U.S. say the Food and Drug Administration is trying to verify the origin of the bootlegged Viagra and Lipitor. But a News 5’s investigation has traced the source to Planet Pharmacy, one of many companies in the DataPro E-Commerce Park in Ladyville.”
But our first check with the office of Chief Pharmacist Sharon Sanchez revealed that no one in Belize is licensed to manufacture prescription drugs for export. And she would know, because any such license is issued through her office. But Planet Pharmacy’s website proudly proclaims they do manufacture the pharmaceuticals. So how do they get away with breaking the law? We thought we’d ask.
Security Guard
“They say they are busy right now, so they are not expecting anyone right now.”
Patrick Jones on the telephone
“So no comments, can I quote you as saying no comments regarding the issue?”
News 5’s attempt at an interview with the owners of Planet Pharmacy was met with stiff resistance. Director of the E-Commerce Park Shirlee Cornejo said that without permission from the owner Planet Pharmacy–who she refused to identify–News 5 would be barred from the facility.
Patrick Jones
“Are you a part of Planet Pharmacy?”
Shirlee Cornejo, Director, Data Pro E Commerce Park
“No sir, I’m the Director here.”
Patrick Jones
“Yes I’m from Channel Five and we are doing a story about some products that come from Planet Pharmacy that the F.D.A. is recalling those products, so I wanted to get some comments from the owners or the manger or somebody from Planet Pharmacy.”
Shirlee Cornejo
“The owner is not here, he’s in the States at this moment. And I don’t authorise anybody into our park unless they have given me permission to authorise anybody in the park at this moment. So I will contact them, if you have a number then I will have them get back in touch with you.”
Needless to say, we are still waiting for that call. Cornejo says that Planet Pharmacy has been operating from this compound for about four years. Exactly when they started making and exporting Lipitor and Viagra is not known, but the bottom line is that according to Director of Health Services, Dr. Errol Vanzie, the operation is completely illegal.
Via telephone, Dr. Vanzie told News 5 that about a month ago the people at Planet Pharmacy tried to get a permit to import the ingredients to make the prescription drug. Vanzie maintains the application was denied based on the fact that Planet Pharmacy is not a registered manufacturing company in Belize.
So then, without a license Planet Pharmacy continues to concoct what the F.D.A. says are watered down versions of cholesterol medication Lipitor and the impotency drug Viagra. And no one in the Ministry of Health seems inclined or prepared for the fall out from shutting down the operation. Patrick Jones, for News 5.
According to Dr. Vanzie, his department is currently working on legislation that would regulate the licensing of companies to manufacture and export pharmaceutical products. That document is expected to be enacted by September. But until then, Vanzie says there is nothing the Ministry of Health can do to stop the illegal activities of Planet Pharmacy or any company like it.
