Every individual should have easy access to medicine - Bhatnagar

Assistant Health Minister, Veena Bhatnagar has made it clear that every individual should have easy access to medicine.

Bhatnagar said under the government’s free medicine scheme, individuals can get their medicine from government and private pharmacies.

However, Bhatnagar said if government pharmacies run out of some types of medicine, then people may be told to check for that medicine at the private pharmacy.

She said they have included private pharmacies under the free medicine scheme to help people who do not want to wait at health centers or hospitals to get their medicine.

Meanwhile, prescriptions will be used as a controlling measure to prevent abuse in the government’s free medicine scheme.

Chief Pharmacist, Apolosi Vosanibola said the program has developed a database for all individuals that are eligible for free medicine. 

Vosanibola said free medicine will only be issued to individuals by the pharmacist once a doctor’s prescription is presented from eligible individuals.

He added that these prescriptions will be used as an indicator for medicine usage.

Over 2,000 cards have been printed and are now being given to individuals.

The Ministry of Health has received 12,209 applications so far.

People earning $30,000 and below can register for this program and the forms can be obtained from health facilities around the country.