A dispute has emerged between local pharmaceutical providers and maritime authorities over reports of medication shortages affecting residents across Antigua and Barbuda.
According to Antigua Observer, several pharmacists have recently informed customers that specific medications are unavailable, pointing to delays in incoming shipments as the cause.
However, Port Manager Darwin Telemaque has moved to publicly dispute those claims. Telemaque addressed the matter directly with Observer Media, asserting that operations at the port are not responsible for any delays in pharmaceutical shipments reaching the island.
The conflicting accounts have created uncertainty among residents who rely on consistent access to prescription and over-the-counter medications. Pharmacists, who are on the front lines of dispensing medications to the public, have indicated that the shortages are tied to logistical issues with incoming cargo — a characterisation the port authority has firmly rejected.
As reported by Antigua Observer, Telemaque's clarification signals a disconnect between the two sectors over the root cause of the shortages, leaving questions about accountability and resolution unanswered for now.
It remains unclear when the affected medications will be fully restocked, and neither the pharmaceutical providers nor port authorities have outlined a concrete timeline for resolving the situation.
