We applaud the measured response of Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan to the alarm raised by Dr Petronella Manning-Alleyne over the quality of medication provided by the public health system to her brother, former prime minister Patrick Manning.

Like him, we too hope that the seasoned and respected Dr Manning-Alleyne would have checked her facts with scientific thoroughness before going public. A professional of her experience would know the potential implications of any statement which has the potential to impair public confidence in the integrity of the medication provided to them through the health system.

Dr Khan is correct in saying that the issue is one deserving of investigation and we would like the assurance of knowing that, given the serious nature of the questions raised by Dr Manning-Alleyne, an investigation is already underway. We urge the minister not to allow the matter to drop at the level of counter press conferences but to see this one through to the end in order to determine the truth. The public interest deserves nothing less.

If the fears of Dr Manning-Alleyne prove to be well-founded, we will all have to thank her for having the courage to assume the role of whistle-blower. If, on the other hand, they turn out to have been baseless with the added damage of premature publicity, the consequences for her could be significant. We would hope that as a senior member of the medical profession, Dr Manning-Alleyne would not have allowed anxiety over her brother's care to get the better of her judgment, knowing the high cost of patients losing confidence in their medication.

The issue of Mr Manning's medication apart, we believe that this incident has served to throw into focus the quality of drugs distributed throughout the health system. We could only benefit if the Ministry of Health uses this opportunity to review its protocols for drug selection, sourcing, procurement, storage, security, prescription and distribution of all medical drugs in the country. Far too many things go wrong for us to assume that our hospitals' pharmacy operations are stellar performers which have somehow managed to escape the mismanagement and neglect that are evident throughout the system. The reports of drug shortages and mis-prescriptions that emerge from time to time indicate to us that this, too, is an area in need of review and improvement.

Meanwhile, as the Health Minister deals with this and other urgent issues in the health system, both private and public, we hope that he does not become so distracted that the Government forgets its promise to deliver a Patient Bill of Rights. Such a bill provides the contractual basis under which the system can be held accountable for wrongdoing. Until this is delivered, the public and private health systems remain free to commit any number of sins, both of omission and commission, with the public having no recourse for justice.