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Minister Gibson Updates on Bahamas National Prescription Drug Plan
Aug 8, 2014 - 12:10:53 PM

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While the National Prescription Drug Plan, now in its fourth year, is expanding and has been very beneficial, there is some concern for the fiscal future of the Plan with regards to sustainability of the Drug Fund, the Hon. D. Shane Gibson, Minister of Labour and National Insurance, reported in his July 30, 2014 communication to the House of Assembly tabling the National Insurance Board’s Chronic Diseases Prescription Drug Fund 2012 Audited Financial Statements prepared by PKF Bahamas Chartered Accountants.

Minister Gibson said to address the concern, mechanisms are being identified to ensure the continued success of the Plan in providing quality drugs and supplies currently covered and as well future expansions, noting “since inception, the Plan has been fully funded solely through the Medical Benefits Branch (MBB) of the National Insurance Fund. However, it was never intended for the Medical Benefits Branch to be the lone funding source for the Plan. The National Insurance (Chronic Diseases Prescription Drug Fund) Act, 2009 identifies the Medical Benefits Branch as a source of funding, along with funding from the Consolidated Fund and contributions from workers.”

He continued: “while we are pleased about the clean audit report, we are well aware that if we continue in this direction and with the funding of mini-hospitals by the Medical Benefits Branch, the Branch will be challenged to provide continued funding for the Plan. Indications are that the Central Government will soon have to consider providing funding for the Plan, at least until the Drug Plan is incorporated in the pending National Health Insurance program.”

With the growth in number of participating pharmacies – public and private -- from 108 to 121, and the more than tripling in number of beneficiaries, Minister Gibson was proud to say that beneficiaries are receiving medication for which they had to pay out of pocket, and are thereby saving hundreds of dollars each month.

The Plan has propelled increases in compliance and better control of disease, according to physicians, particularly in the case of glaucoma since patients are able to obtain quality medications free of charge.He noted that through the implementation of the National Health Insurance program in the effort to improve the mechanics of delivery, the government would wish to integrate and merge the procurement system and distribution of drugs for all government entities inclusive of the Drug Plan, the Bahamas National Drug Agency and the Department of Public Health.

Minister Gibson said, “the Drug Plan has liberated and empowered many individuals in that, they are able to fill prescriptions at the pharmacy of their choice, be it public or private. Since inception, we have paid more than 1.1 million claims and spent over $20 million dollars in drugs and medical supplies. Whilst this is the case, a great percentage of the beneficiaries, 84% to be exact, have opted to use private pharmacies as opposed to the public pharmacies. Thus far, we have not seen the level of participation and utilization as we expected from the public sector.

There have been challenges in public and private sector pharmacies, including: turning away Drug Plan members from accessing medications resulting in low drug utilization; not requesting Drug Plan members use their ACE Rx Card and dispensing from public stock instead; filling prescriptions under the clinic’s name instead of the doctor’s name, inhibiting claim submission on refills because the prescriber is unknown; not using the claims processing system when dispensing to members resulting in a higher number of manual claims; less than consistent internet connections preventing the adjudication of claims; and tardiness in sending in requisitions for supplies, in checking, and in verifying receipt of supplies.

In face of myriad challenges, it has been a long, steady process to get many pharmacies on board with the Drug Plan and the work continues to garner full support for the plan. At the Plan’s fourth anniversary on September 20, 2014, Minister Gibson said his Ministry wants to ensure that the Plan remains relevant to the many persons who suffer from chronic conditions – including possibly in the future: Alzheimer’s Disease and Lupus, and extends its IT structure to support inventory management due to Plan growth.

It has yielded valuable data, and still has some growing pains, but one of the Drug Plan’s greatest successes lies in the Healthy People Program, the second component of the National Prescription Drug Plan. Through NIB’s signature Healthy People Program initiative, “The Get Well Bahamas Health and Fitness Challenge”, many persons experienced major improvement in the ailments with chronic conditions through regular exercise and modification in dietary habits.

The Plan is not only concerned with the treatment of chronic conditions but also with the prevention and reduction of the prevalence of chronic conditions through the Healthy People Program. This program is responsible for many personal success stories. Since the start of the Drug Plan, three phases of the Get Well Bahamas Challenge have been launched Minister Gibson remarked: through programs of this nature in conjunction with the implementation of the National Health Insurance Plan, the aim is to provide not only prescriptions but also comprehensive health care to the entire Bahamian population.

There are many persons suffering from more than just chronic diseases that require a lot more than just prescriptions. There are many who cannot afford private health insurance, hence the goal is to provide affordable coverage for persons to have access to the health services they need. This comprehensive care will definitely improve the lives of many Bahamians and give them peace of mind in knowing that they are covered no matter what.


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