Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe is assuring citizens that there will not be cutbacks to the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP). Instead, he said it will be expanded and updated with new medications.
Speaking at the Post-Cabinet Media Conference on Thursday evening, Dr. Bodoe said he commissioned a CDAP Review Committee in June, comprising senior health policy and clinical experts tasked with aligning CDAP with modern clinical practice and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
As a result of their findings, he announced several reforms aimed at modernising the programme with superior medication.
“In the area of mental health, the drug Sulpiride is now being replaced by a drug by the name of Risperidone, which is a more effective antipsychotic agent. In the area of cardiovascular disease, which is a common disease and condition, the drug Simvastatin is now being replaced by a drug by the name of Rosuvastatin. It’s commonly called Crestor. At the same time, in addition to the replacement of current drugs on the CDAP programme, the recommendation from the committee was to introduce at this time additional medications, and in this instance, it’s two medications, and the cabinet has accepted that recommendation, which will be to add a drug called Clopidogrel, 75 milligrammes, the common name is Plavix, and a drug called Losartan, the common name is Cozaar 50 milligrammes. These additions to CDAP are new, and of course, they will offer protection in the area of cardiovascular disease.”
The Health Minister said another strategic move to reduce expenditure will include the sourcing of glucose test strips from India.
“Currently, glucose strips cost the government approximately $1.15 per unit. Through a proposed government-to-government arrangement with the Republic of India, you will recall the recent visit of Prime Minister Modi, at which an MOU was signed and would have included the ability of the government to access drugs from India – the same high-quality drugs but at a cheaper cost. So we have found that we can replace these strips that currently cost the government $1.15 and now we can acquire ISO certified WHO pre-qualified strips at less than $0.34 per unit, delivering much better value. So I just want to make the point here, because the question will be asked, of course, when the cost is reduced, whether the same quality is being offered to the public, and I want to give the assurance that the answer to that is yes.”
The Minister also announced a recommendation to launch an initiative called CDAP+ for advanced treatments not covered under the programme.
“This will allow access to specialist prescribed medications, again, delivered through private pharmacies under regulated pricing agreements and at no direct cost to the government. The details of that programme are yet to be ruled out. The committee is still working on this and a full implementation proposal is expected to be brought to the cabinet by the end of the year.”
The Health Minister stated that the government will also be removing the $68,000 technology entry costs previously required for pharmacies to join CDAP.