National Federation Party MP, Parmod Chand says the free medicine scheme is in a shambolic state and needs to be reviewed urgently to bring about efficiency and to ensure it is fully maximized by all eligible recipients.
While giving his statement on the review of free medicine, Chand urged government to change the eligibility criteria so that individuals under 18 years of age who are mostly students are able to access the scheme irrespective of their parent’s joint income reaching the joint threshold of $40,000.
Chand says they should equip pharmacies with computers or link their computers to the Ministry’s database of eligible recipients and also suggests that they remove the list of 142 medicines and implement a truly genuine free medicine scheme where those eligible can access any medicine prescribed by the doctor.
While responding to Chand’s statement, Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says it is incorrect to say children don’t get free medicine adding that with 31,000 people registered for the free medicine scheme, it does not mean only they get free medicine.
The Acting Prime Minister says they are working with the Indian Government to get a software to get the government and other pharmacies connected.
He says that the free medicine scheme is being reviewed.
Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted that the Acting Permanent Secretary of Health is working on how they can improve by introducing the software that is required for it and also to be able to establish a chain of supply.
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