Pubdate: Mon, 03 Jul 2000 Source: Post-Courier (New Guinea) Copyright: 2000, Post-Courier Contact: P.O. Box 85, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea Fax: (675) 320 1781 Website: http://www.postcourier.com.pg HEALTH AT ODDS WITH POLICE ON DRUGS THE Health Department does not have records indicating an order for the importation of two chemicals to allegedly needed produce an illicit. Deputy Health Secretary, Isaac Ake said the department had copies of letters ordering methamphetamine from India but he said they were from the Police Department. Dr Ake said the Health Department was the only competent and legitimate body that can order drugs from countries that manufactured them. He said the Health Minister was the only person who had the power under the Medicines and Cosmetics Act to authorise the importation of drugs. This Act was approved by Parliament last year. The Act also allows for a certain amount of drug and this is controlled by the International Narcotics Bureau. Dr Ake said there was no company in the country that could manufacture such drugs. "In PNG there is no company that has been given a permit to produce drugs. The reason is that we have to meet international standards by meeting strict guidelines on manufacturing drugs. The country does not have an internal market to allow intending companies to make profit." Reports from another newspaper stated the Police Minister and the National Narcotics Bureau had approved the importation of chemicals to produce mathemphetamine. But Minister, Mathias Karani denied the chemicals were for the production of methamphetamine. In a statement he said: "The high qualities of raw pseudoepedrine drugs, about 4000kg, which are semi processed, were supposed to be imported would primarily be processed as pharmaceutical or medical drugs for the use of curing chronic diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and other cough medicines popular among Papua New Guineans. "These are preventable diseases and people can be cured, however with cheaper drugs, many of our populace can have access to and have their diseases cured. And this is the crux of the issue in importing cheaper raw drugs and processing them locally so that people can be able to pay for them at a more subsidised price," he said. He said he always stood for a drug-free society and that his involvement and approval to ensure that these drugs were imported for processing medical drugs in PNG were based on a clear conscience for the well being of people. Mr Karani added he had no sinister motives attached to his involvement because the social, economic and medical benefits these locally manufactured drugs would have on PNG were enormous. - --- MAP posted-by: greg