Health Minister Zane DeSilva’s move to allow generic drugs into Bermuda while former Premier Ewart Brown sets up his own healthcare agency underlines the need for transparency, according to Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz.Mr Moniz also questioned whether Rolfe Commissiong, who is partnering Dr Brown for the project, should be able to operate as a private businessman while working in Cabinet as a consultant to Premier Paula Cox.Mr DeSilva caused concern among pharmacists by introducing regulations allowing prescription drugs to be imported from Brazil, India and Israel earlier this month.This Wednesday, it emerged Dr Brown and Mr Commissiong have teamed up with Ven Subramanian, the consultant who coordinated the former Premier’s trip to India last year, to create Bermuda Healthcare Agency, although they have not said what their company intends to do.Reacting yesterday, Mr Moniz said in a statement: “One of the founding principles of the One Bermuda Alliance is transparency in Government whereby reforms are enacted to ensure the integrity of operations and personnel at all levels.“The swirling controversy over Minister Zane DeSilva’s initiative to allow the import of generic drugs to the Island coinciding with the planned formation of a healthcare company run by a former Premier and a consultant to Premier Cox is one example of how, with transparency, the public would be better served.”Mr Commissiong, who was Dr Brown’s race adviser throughout his four-year term, was retained by Ms Cox to finish implementing recommendations from the Mincy Report into young black males. He is contracted to August this year; Government would not disclose his salary, but said he has recently coordinated visits from representatives of Job Corps, Career Academies and Columbia University scientist Monique Jethwani-Keyser.Mr Moniz said yesterday: “We urge the Premier to step forward and clarify Mr Commissiong’s role as her consultant and whatever allowance he has to operate as a private businessman while working out of the Cabinet Office.”Mr DeSilva’s Pharmacy and Poisons (Designation of Approved Countries) Order adds Brazil, India and Israel to an already approved list of countries from which prescription drugs can be imported, as of July 1. He says this will help drive down healthcare costs. Government’s Pharmacy Inspector Lynanne Bolton called for the order to be halted, complaining pharmacists had not been consulted and saying it could result in counterfeit or substandard prescription drugs entering the Island.Mr DeSilva responded that there would be no U-turn, saying local wholesalers and retailers are very careful to ensure they purchase from reputable suppliers. Shadow Health Minister Kathy Michelmore has now asked Mr DeSilva to explain why he expanded the drugs import list without consulting the Pharmacy Inspector or the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association.She said in a statement: “The Minister must provide Bermuda with sound information about his plan because right now, on the basis of what he has said, it does not add up.“Minister DeSilva said Mr and Mrs Bermuda can save up to $2,000 a month using generic drugs. But he provides no evidence to back up the statement. What cost analysis has he used to put forward such a figure? And so we ask him to provide Mr and Mrs Bermuda with his cost analysis to support his claim.“A recent report in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association stated that Southeast Asia is widely reported to be the origin of much of the world’s counterfeit drugs. The article also stated that a World Health Organisation report determined that India is the leading producer of counterfeit drugs, accountable for as much as 35 percent of the world’s production. These types of figures underline why pharmacists, doctors and patients are voicing concerns.“Bermuda currently has inadequate controls in place to control the quality of imported drugs. It is why our existing import restrictions on countries are so important. Pharmacists and the Government agree that controls need to be tightened. Legislation to support this is pending.“Why is Mr DeSilva so resistant to sensible suggestions to hold off on expansion until greater controls are in place?”Yesterday, this newspaper reported how law firm Charter Chambers had lodged a legal notice on behalf of Dr Brown, Mr Commissiong and Mr Subramanian in the Bermuda Sun, stating they are applying to incorporate a local company called Bermuda Healthcare Agency Ltd. They are not required to make their plans for the company public with the Register of Companies for another three months.Mr DeSilva was due to hold a press conference yesterday regarding a further amendment to the Pharmacy and Poisons Act but that was cancelled in the morning. Mr DeSilva, Dr Brown and Mr Commissiong did not respond to questions yesterday.Mr Subramanian was closely involved with Dr Brown when he made a $37,000 trip to India in May last year.Dr Brown had promised the link-up would lead to song sequences from the Bollywood film ‘Veera’ being shot in Bermuda, reaping benefits for the Island’s exposure. Mr Subramanian was said to be coordinator for the filming. That film was reportedly released two months ago with no Bermuda sequences, due to problems getting US visas.Mr Subramanian then assisted with a second visit to India for the Commonwealth Games last October in one of Dr Brown’s final acts as a leader. During that visit, which Dr Brown paid for himself, the two countries signed a tax information exchange agreement.Useful websites: www.oba.bm.