Health in cyclone-affected areas is currently getting a
boost from fees-free prescriptions, and community
pharmacists and health workers are keen to see the fee
waiver extended beyond its 19 March deadline.
“Access
to medicines is getting such a lift from this fee waiver; we
know there are fewer people in unnecessary pain, and more
people receiving vital medicines such as insulin,” says
Mangawhai pharmacist Lanny Wong. “Patients are so thankful.
This waiver also reduces the high stress and anxiety often
associated with managing healthcare costs.”
Te Whatu
Ora removed the $5 prescription patient co-payment fee for
four weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle for affected areas
Northland, Tairāwhiti, Hawkes Bay and Tararua
Districts.
Community pharmacists are worried about
what will happen after the waiver stops.
“We know fees
are a barrier for many people getting access to their
prescribed medicines throughout the country, even places
where there has been no flooding,” says Wong. “Research
shows the fees barrier can lead to whakamā, shame and
embarrassment, to people missing out on food to pay for
medicines, and it can even lead to unnecessary
hospitalisations.”
Hastings pharmacist Tanweer Shah is
seeing patients who previously were unable to afford their
prescription charges return to his pharmacy post cyclone
Gabrielle. “It is so good to see them again, these people
are coming back to us because we are able to provide a
personal service and understand their
issues.
Unfortunately, the $5 co-payments were a
barrier for them. We are seeing more acute scripts from GP
practices and the hospital coming in because we are
conveniently located and we are also closer. It’s great
they don’t have to drive too far and pay for petrol to
seek free medicines away from the community. We’re worried
when the waiver ends next week.”
Wairoa pharmacist Mr
Alan Chinwayange is grateful for this initiative. “When the
Cyclone hit, Wairoa was cut off. For 4 days we were isolated
and could not contact anyone. Civil Defence & Te Whatu
Ora were great at supporting us through the crisis when the
cyclone hit. This co-payment waiver is the right follow-up
response by Te Whatu Ora to allow my community to focus on
rebuilding. Removing the stress about money to pay for
medicines helps, because I know many in my community have
lost everything.”
In Tararua district, Primary Care
Support Pharmacist Mrs Jessica Pankhurst says the fees
waiver has freed up time to focus on important healthcare
services “We often need to organise WINZ payment [for
prescription co-payment fees] for our patients, and all that
takes time. So, it has been amazing not having to worry
about patients struggling to pay this fee these past few
weeks, and we have more time for [healthcare services] like
medicine review, home visits, run clinics with nurses and
hospital discharge follow up.”
Owner of Dannevirke
Pharmacy Mr Hamish Pankhurst agrees: “The area of our
pharmacy services extends out to coastal Tararua. With the
fees waiver, we have been able to quickly get medication out
to the coast via helicopters, 4WD and the crisis team
without burdening anyone or worrying them with costs. The
removal of fees has been a blessing and very well received
in Tararua.”
“Te Whatu Ora is currently making a
significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of the
cyclone-affected communities with this waiver,” says Wong.
“We hope free prescriptions will continue beyond next week,
because the need certainly will.”
Notes:
– The
co-payment fee is $5 per prescribed item, so one doctor’s
visit could cost much more than that, depending on the
number of items prescribed.
– Recently released
University of Otago research shows that the co-payment leads
to unnecessary hospitalisations https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago0240811.html
–
According to the Ministry of Health (NZ Health Survey)
137,000 adults in New Zealand (3.3%) had at least one
unfilled prescription due to cost in 2021/22.
– Other
people go without other requirements for good health – such
as good food, heating, clean clothes – so they can afford
their medicines. Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26681431/
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