Gov’t to engage private pharmacies to ease long wait for medication

The Government is implementing a policy to ease the long wait at public pharmacies by contracting private entities for the dispensing of drugs to persons who obtain prescriptions from state-run facilities.

Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton said starting next month, the National Health Fund (NHF), will be engaging private pharmacies, through a pilot project, where a person, having visited a hospital or clinic and received a prescription, will not have to wait long to collect his or her medication.

Tufton, who was addressing the opening of a Drug Serv Pharmacy at the Kitson Town Health Centre in St Catherine last Wednesday, said due to the long wait to get drugs through the public system, some persons do not treat their illnesses.

“Designated pharmacies contracted to provide the service will give persons choices. You will have more distribution points, and that is important, because when someone is sick and wants solution, they shouldn’t have to wait four and five hours in the sun to get drugs,” the minister told the audience.