Health Care Fiji-Aspen partnership did not include outpatient medicines – Prof. Prasad

The public-private partnership between Health Care Fiji and Aspen Medical to manage Lautoka and Ba Hospitals signed by the former Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum never included outpatient medicines.

This has been confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad who has reiterated that negotiations with Aspen are still ongoing.

He says Aspen was providing outpatient medicines with a significant cost to the government but the Ministry of Health has now taken over the provision of outpatient medicines.

Professor Prasad says the inpatients will continue to receive all medicine and consumables at the hospitals.

He says however, in line with the concession agreement, Health Care Fiji is not required to provide outpatient medicines as the concession agreement envisaged that the Government/Ministry of Health will set up a public dispensary at the Lautoka hospital to provide outpatient medicines.

The Deputy Prime Minister says given the early handover of the hospitals by the previous Government, these transitional arrangements are being implemented now.

He says in light of this, the Health Ministry is now dispensing outpatient medicines through Western Health Divisional Office in Vidilo House, Kamikamica Health Centre, Punjas Health Centre, the Dispensary outside Ba Hospital and private pharmacies under the Free Medicine Scheme.

Professor Prasad says during this transition, Government is working on setting up additional dispensary centres, including a permanent medicine dispensary at the Lautoka and Ba hospital soon.

The Deputy Prime Minister says in addition, the government will review the operations of the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services so that it is able to procure and supply medicines and associate consumables efficiently and effectively.

Professor Prasad further says the decision to dispense free medicine from government health centres and private pharmacies for those visiting outpatient departments at Lautoka and Ba Hospitals is a short-term measure.

He also says they have signed a new pharmacopeia agreement with India and an additional agreement to ensure Fiji is able to procure basic medicines on time and for it to be available in all hospitals, health centres and nursing stations.

Professor Prasad says the Ministry of Health is confident that with this new arrangement the cost of basic medicine will also reduce and that it will be available in every health facility.