Bark Di Trute!: Celebrating Charlie's Pharmacy From 1991 to 2021

There is an urgent need to expand and upgrade health care services in Downtown, Kingston, and the public health care system is inadequate to meet the needs of the populace due amongst other factors, to inadequate funding.

Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd., a family-owned retail community pharmacy, was established in 1991 to provide a high quality health care facility in Downtown, Kingston. It was named after Mr Vervell “Charlie” McDaniel, whose retirement after 40 years in the police force coincided with his daughter Dahlia McDaniel’s graduation as a pharmacist. Wife and Mom, Enid McDaniel joined the company as assistant manager one year later. Dr Carol McDaniel and Captain Dave McDaniel (retired) are shareholders.

Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd currently has 16 highly motivated, caring, ambitious, conscientious and industrious team members, as does its subsidiary Medicine Chest Ltd.

The directors of this establishment are committed to meeting the health care needs of this constituency by satisfying the main factors which influence the consumers’ choice – “cost, accessibility and quality of service” (Suzette Tulloch, UWI, 1997).

Since 1999, Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd has a branch called Medicine Chest Ltd which is also located in Downtown Kingston, It is also a full service pharmacy, complete with a medical centre upstairs – Medicine Chest Health Centre Ltd.

The health centre was initially headed by Dr Carol McDaniel, forensic psychiatrist, and today four (4) general practitioners , and a Gynaecologist/ Obstetrician who specialises in High-risk Pregnancy and two nurses comprise the health care team.

The Managing Director of Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd. and Medicine Chest Ltd, is Dahlia McDaniel, a registered pharmacist for 32 years, who is a Public Health specialist. Dr. McDaniel’s work with HIV/AIDS in Downtown Kingston, through Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd., was highlighted at the 13^th International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa in 2001.

The pharmacies are major suppliers of medication for HIV/AIDS to clients from various areas of Jamaica. Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd. and Medicine Chest Ltd are the largest suppliers of HIV medication in the private sector. In fact since August, 2010 Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd. and Medicine Chest Ltd. have been suppliers of HIV medications to the public, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Jamaica.

The pharmacists of Charlie’s Pharmacy are also specialists in Diabetes Management and Diabetes Education.

Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd. and Medicine Chest Ltd endorse and participate in the government of Jamaica’s health care programmes – Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly Programme (JADEP), and the National Health Fund (NHF). Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd. and Medicine Chest Ltd have received commendations from both organizations for our provision of health care services to the public.

Unfortunately Mr Vervell “Charlie” McDaniel passed away in August 2020at 89 years old.

The group of companies is a good corporate citizen.

THE MISSION STATEMENT

Our Mission is to:

Serve Society as professionals responsible for total health care including appropriate use of medications, devices and services, and the provision consultation to achieve maximal therapeutic outcomes.
Provide preventive medical information to all clients, as part of a strong health educational component of our service.
Achieve excellence in service to all clients, and in so doing become the best pharmacy in the Caribbean.
Provide a fair return to all of our shareholders.
Provide optimal opportunities for personal development of all employees.
Be a good corporate citizen, and enhance the general status and well-being of the Downtown, Kinston community.