The Free Medicine has been plagued with issues since its earmarked roll-out at the beginning of the year.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Meciusela Tuicakau says they are currently working with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority to ensure the right recipients are taking up the program
“The issue with the free medicine is the verification of the Salary, we’ve gone to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority to supply us the names of people who earn less than 20 thousand and we have to verify that with the patients coming in with their prescriptions.”
Dr. Tuicakau says the program is nonetheless up and running with forms at all hospitals and health clinics as well as pharmacies both private and public.
Adding that while 72 drugs have made the Free Medicine list, not all are available yet.
“The 52, are the 1s already on our list, we already have that in the Pharmacy, the Fiji Pharmaceuticals Services, the other 20 are the 1s that we don’t usually, its not in our list and therefore we are to acquire and procure and we have to go for tender and after the tender process, than we can talk to suppliers, but it should be arriving before the end of the month.”
Fijians over 18 years old and earning less than 20 thousand dollars qualify for the Free Medicine Program; this includes those households with a combined income of less than the required amount.
