Pharmaceutical Society seeks answers from Ferguson on Registration of Appeals Tribunal ruling

The Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica wants answers from the Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson about how a ruling of the Registration of Appeals Tribunal could have been deemed to have no legal effect.

The contention follows a ruling by the Judicial Review Court earlier this week which noted that the Tribunal's ruling in a case between the Pharmacy Council and student pharmacists was of no legal effect because it was not properly constituted at the time the decision was made. 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica says it is concerned about the matter.

The society's First Vice-President, Dr Ernestine Watson wants to know the procedures carried out to ensure the tribunal is properly constituted.

And the society is requesting that measures be put in place to ensure tribunal decisions are always in legal effect.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica says the right and grounds for appeal is entrenched in the Pharmacy Act and Regulations and the process of establishing and appointing the Appeal’s tribunal is the remit of the Minister of Health.

According to the society, without this measure of certainty, aggrieved pharmacists could become deterred from seeking redress.

It says it is awaiting a response from the ministry as it is important for pharmacists to have faith in the legitimacy, transparency and integrity of the Appeal’s Tribunal.