Needy patients must know about CDAP

THE EDITOR: This is the second consecutive week in which pharmacists at the various government hospital dispensaries have taken some form of industrial action, thus bringing great hardships to the mostly poor and the elderly persons seeking to obtain their medications at these institutions. Why are so many ailing and needy persons going to hospital dispensaries for their prescriptions to be filled, when drugs for persons 60 years and over and under 18 years of age and suffering from some common ailments, eg heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and other common diseases, can access these drugs at the private pharmacies (drug stores),  on the prescription of the doctor at the health office and the completition of a special form?

In conversation with some of these unfortunate persons awaiting attention at a hospital dispensary on Monday September 27, I have come to the conclusion that many of these aged persons cannot read, cannot see and do not have spectacles and the majority do not read the newspapers and are unaware of the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP ), and the procedure for obtaining their medications “free-of-charge” at the private pharmacies (drug stores). The persons responsible for implementing CDAP would say that the programme was publicised  in the media and that posters are prominently displayed in public places. This is not being disputed. What has been done is inadequate and does not get the message out to the poor, aged and the needy.

In my opinion, what is required is that if the prescribed drug is not available from the dispensary at the health office which the patient attends, then the patient should be told how to obtain these “free drugs” from the private pharmacies (drug stores) with a doctor’s prescription, and after  the necessary form is completed. We must remember that there are really no “free drugs” since citizens not only pay for medications through personal income taxes, but additionally  by the payment of a health surcharge. Why should the poor and the elderly be made to suffer if the CPO and the representatives of the government pharmacists have not reached an agreement for  increased salaries  and improved conditions of service. A renewed public awareness programme about how to benefit from CDAP is immediately required.

IAN LAMBIE
Port-of-Spain