Now pharmacists sick over new CDAP plan

YESTERDAY’S Budget an-nouncement by Prime Minister Patrick Manning that all will access drugs at private pharmacies under the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP), was a bitter pill for pharmacists to swallow. Having again boycotted hospital and health centres’ dispensaries yesterday, pharmacists have decided to abandon their current sick-out action and embark on go-slow action from Monday at all health institutions where they work. Newsday obtained the views of the protesting pharmacists on the new measure. Expansion of the CDAP programme to include everyone, regardless of age, the pharmacists said, was aimed at making their jobs redundant at public health institutions. Currently, only persons under age 18 and over 65, access drugs at private pharmacies under CDAP. Only 13 drug items are dispensed under this programme.

Hospital pharmacies currently stock 633 drug items and it was the view of the protesting pharmacists yesterday that the measure means less people will access drugs at hospital dispensaries. “Less patients mean less work for pharmacists,” a spokesman for the pharmacists said. “The result of which is a cut in the working hours of pharmacists.” Pharmacists, who have virtually shutdown dispensaries for thousands of hospital out-patients, are clamouring for reclassification of their work status which would earn them higher salaries. Junior Minister Conrad Enill announced an enhanced package increase for them on Thursday. “We do not think what is being proposed has met our expectations,” one pharmacist said. The pharmacists, Newsday was told, have collectively agreed to report to work next week Monday, but will withold their “enthusiasm” on the job.