The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Democratic National Alliance's (DNA) former leader is hoping for a "smoother operation" this time around for his family's pharmacy, which is again a participant in the National Prescription Drug Programme (NPDP).

Branville McCartney had previously told this newspaper that Wilmac's Pharmacy had "lost all kinds of money" because the NPDP's terms had been changed without warning.

"Initially the challenge was just being paid by the Government at the time," he said yesterday. "We certainly had issues being paid in a timely fashion. As you know, we would have to front the drugs, pay for them initially and then get reimbursed by the Government.

"Initially the contract spoke about weekly reimbursement and the Government at the time, the previous administration, unilaterally changed that agreement and said they would only pay monthly, and then we started to get delays in payment."

Mr McCartney continued: "Then they introduced a Tax Compliance Certificate. There were many instances when we had the tax certificate, but they said we were not compliant, and so it was one stumbling block after another.

"It was not good for business and we decided to put a stop to it. Recently we were asked to get back on the plan and we considered it. We told them what our concerns were previously in terms of payment and in terms of the inefficiencies."

Mr McCartney said that as of this week, Wilmac's Pharmacy is back with the NPDP.

"We officially started on Monday, and hopefully we can have a smoother operation with the drug plan because we get a significant amount of people who were on it, those who lived in the area," he added. "It was very difficult to stop, but when we weren't being paid we were hitting a brick wall. "It wasn't good for business, so we had to make a business decision. However, we have been assured payments will be made in a timely fashion."