Create: April 17, 2025 at 8:14 am
The Bermuda Health Council will monitor the effect of US tariffs on generic drugs (photo of David Fox)
Bermuda Health Council, chairman of the Bermuda Health Council, said the US proposed tariff on imported drugs is the cause of worry at Bermuda.
BHC chief executive Ricky brathwaite said Royal Public Affairs: “It’s too early to quantify the exact cost increase, but the possibility of price inflation of drugs, not brands, is a legitimate concern for Bermuda’s health system and consumers.”
Dr. BrathWaite responded to a plan to force the US President to increase the US’s drug manufacturing to impose taxes on US President Donald Trump.
80 %of US pharmaceuticals were made in China.
BHC executives said the tariffs on drugs to the US can raise prices and indirectly affect Bermuda due to the dependence on the US infrastructure and distribution chains.
Ricky Brahwaite, CEO of the Bermuda Health Council, said the proposed tax could indirectly affect Bermuda (file photo).
Reuters reported that tariffs could not have a high price for branded medicines, but they could threaten access to cheap general medicines with thin margins.
According to Reuters, about $ 213 billion was imported to the United States last year.
Dr. BrathWaite said Bermuda’s bill allowed imports and sales of drugs approved by existing regulators such as the US Food and Drug Administration.
“These institutions are internationally respected for their strong review of pharmaceutical safety, efficacy and quality,” he said, “he said. “Adjustment with the standard helps to protect the products used by our population. Also, Bermuda provides flexibility that can be surrounded by various jurisdictions based on cost efficiency and availability.”
But Bermuda cannot be supplied with US drugs.
Dr. BrathWaite said, “We have regulations and technical tools that can adapt when global conditions change, and as other stakeholders reverse, the local market has the capacity and preparation to adjust the procurement strategy as needed.
He said that to alleviate this risk, Bermuda actively participated in technical cooperation with Pan American Health Organization, including participation in discussions on the PAHO Strategic Fund.
“This is a pooled procurement mechanism that many Caribbean countries use to achieve cost savings through collective amount,” he said. “Bermuda has gained profits from the support of PAHO, which has successfully used strategic funds to reduce HIV drugs by more than 90 % and obtain vaccine and other important public health supply.
“In the case of small jurisdictions such as us, local partnerships are essential to maintain economic, elasticity and continuity of treatment.”
Personal pharmacies and local distributors generally procure Bermuda’s drugs, but BHS has a legal role in procurement negotiations, especially when securing cost -effective prices, Dr. Brathwaite said.
He added that the tariff situation emphasized the importance of pre -precautionary evidence -based plans.
“Beyond the coast, global trade decisions can affect the ability of the region to approach and handle medicines,” he said. “Strengthening partnerships, optimizing the procurement strategy and remaining flexibly is important to keep Bermuda’s population.”
Dr. BrathWaite said that the government has taken measures to improve the drug economy, including the establishment of drug benefits according to the health insurance plan and the expansion of drug benefits from $ 1,000 to $ 3,000 per policy year.
“This change helps to reduce the financial burden of individuals with chronic or high cost conditions.”
