AUSTRALIA and Solomon Islands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Pacific Pharmaceutical Laboratory Testing Pilot Program.
This pilot program will give Solomon Islands access to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) laboratories for medicine quality testing.
Testing will focus initially on a selection of routine antibiotics and medicines commonly used in Solomon Islands to treat non-communicable diseases.
The samples to be tested will be selected by the Chief Pharmacist from the Ministry of Health and Medical Service.
The Permanent Secretary of Health, Dr Tenneth Dalipada and Australian High Commissioner Roderick Brazier signed the MoU in a ceremony at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services executive offices yesterday.
‘We are delighted to sign this new MoU, which demonstrates the close and productive relationships between our two countries and complements the work already underway as part
of our development partnership in the health sector’ said the High Commissioner.
PS Health thanked Australia for the opportunity for Solomon Islands to participate in this pilot.
‘This is a historic moment for the Solomon Islands because it is the first time we have been able to test the safety and efficacy of the medicines we use.
“We’re grateful to have access to the specialised equipment and expertise of the TGA, which is not currently available here.”
Solomon Islands took up the offer to join this pilot program following consultations in November 2017 between the Therapeutic Goods Administration Australia (TGA) and officials
from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and other Development Partners who are engaged in the health sector.