The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS 

Tribune Staff Reporter 

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville has refuted claims made by Free National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands regarding medication shortages and vendor payments within the public healthcare system.

Dr Sands in a recent press statement alleged that medication is in short supply across the health system due to at least two major pharmaceutical vendors not being paid, leading to a supply cutoff to the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA).

However, Dr Darville denied these claims, asserting that the statement is “completely incorrect”.

“We will always have issues with procurement processes. There are some private procurement groups that do not have the supply. Sometimes we find ourselves in a position where there is a fall in the flow of where medications get to the Family Islands, but as far as I am aware, we have medications in our system, but we do run short in certain elements of medications.

“But that doesn’t change the fact that we are trying to ensure that Bahamians have access to these medications, and we intend to do our endeavour best to make sure that we provide the essential chronic non-communicable disease medications so that individuals who can’t afford it can access it.”

When asked if vendors had cut off services to the PHA, Dr Darville responded: “To my knowledge, we are still receiving medications from all of our vendors. I didn’t say there may not be some outstanding payments, but to my knowledge, we are at the table receiving medications from all of our vendors, as far as I have been informed.”

These comments come after Dr Sands recently criticised the government’s handling of the healthcare system, citing ongoing issues such as an overflow of medical waste at Rand Memorial Hospital, overcrowding in Accident and Emergency, and delays in the completion of the new A&E facility.

He accused Dr Darville of misleading the public and the House of Assembly regarding the state of healthcare facilities, questioning how the government plans to fund expanded prescription drug benefits when it is allegedly struggling to meet current obligations.

The government recently revealed its intentions to transition the Chronic Drug Prescription Plan from the National Insurance Board (NIB) to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). The initiative aims to provide free medication for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to patients across the country.

Currently, 44,000 Bahamians –– primarily government workers and their families –– receive free medication under the NIB Chronic Drug Prescription Plan, which the Ministry of Health currently manages. However, the budget or timeline for the programme remains undisclosed.