Problems in CDAP

Although the general consensus is that the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP) is a good programme and is functioning well, a pharmacy in St James reported that there is “a certain degree” of corruption taking place when people with “repeat prescriptions” access the service. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, private pharmacies gave their views on CDAP and the possibility of corruption taking place. At the St James pharmacy, the pharmacist told Newsday that when a doctor prescribed more than a month’s supply of medication, private pharmacies are supposed to fill out a form provided by the Government for CDAP, but instead of doing this, a pharmacy in the area was photocopying the prescription from the doctor “and giving the patient a copy.”

This was discovered after people tried to get their medication from her pharmacy using the photocopied prescription. She said what is supposed to happen is that the pharmacy must write over the prescription information on the new form and state “repeat” the medication so the patient could return and get another month’s supply. The pharmacist said people have complained that when they went back to the pharmacy they were told “there are no more repeats on the prescription and they have to get another prescription.” She said by having the patient’s ID number, doctor’s name and prescription, a pharmacy could write over the prescription and submit it as part of its claim for fees although it has not given out all the medication.

She said the National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd was supposed to do stock taking in pharmacies but it has never done so where she works. Under CDAP rules pharmacies could be held accountable for any discrepancies in stock. A pharmacist in Chaguanas said the CDAP system is good. She said Nipdec checks claims for payment which are submitted. She said any discrepancy regarding a prescription or signature is verified. “They come and check stock and balance it,” she said. The system can be manipulated, she said. In the absence of all pharmacies being computerised and linked she said patients could have their prescriptions filled twice at different pharmacies. However, she said Nipdec could “eventually” track this person because identification card numbers are recorded. She said more public awareness is needed for CDAP to prevent people attempting to get their medication using their passport or driver’s permit. Only ID cards can be used.

Since the Budget announcement of universal access to CDAP, she said “every drug their doctor prescribes they can get free.” Another pharmacist in Chaguanas said, “We receive stock from the Government and give it out to customers via prescription only.” He said pharmacies involved in CDAP are to be computerised and when this happened, there will be no room for abuse. There was a consensus among the pharmacists that they had to do too much for the $10 fee they received for each item dispensed under CDAP. One of them said if too many items are put in CDAP then private pharmacies could be overwhelmed. Officials of Nipdec were not available for comment yesterday.