#SectoralDebate: $35m in prescriptions filled since Public/Private Sector Pharmacy Programme implemented
KINGSTON, Jamaica— More than 7,000 prescriptions, at an estimated value of $5000 each, have been filled since the implementation of the pilot Public/Private Sector Pharmacy Programme on December 16 last year.
According to Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton, who made the disclosure during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives this afternoon, approximately $35 million in value has been accessed by public patients.Under the programme, which was launched in May Pen then extended to Kingston and Montego Bay, the filling of prescriptions for public patients is outsourced to selected private pharmacies. Currently there are 17 Drug Serv pharmacies participating in the pilot programme, which is to be completed by next month.Tufton said once the pilot programme is completed, the ministry will incorporate lessons learnt into the model to ensure efficient operations and there will be a phased implementation island-wide starting in the 2017/18 financial year.Approximately 50 private pharmacies will be included in the programme.The minister also commended the National Health Fund (NHF) and the work they have done towards the partnership, adding that this is a real example of a public/private partnership for the benefit of the Jamaican people, particularly, the most economically vulnerable Jamaicans. Meanwhile, Tufton said to date, more than 800 patients have accessed the electronic submission of prescriptions via Whatsapp, which is a centrally operated service with pick up at any Drug Serv location that was introduced in the fourth quarter of 2016/17.He said the service will be promoted more aggressively this year with continued use of the Whatsapp number: 532-5007.Shanica Blair