In its attempts to provide regional authorities with more independence, the government has allocated funding at the regional level for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies.
The Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan revealed in parliament yesterday during consideration of the budget estimates that while the procurement of drugs and medical supplies will still be centralised, funding will now come from the Regional Health Services.
Under the new system, the Public Health Ministry by way of the Regional Health Services will still be responsible for the procurement of drugs, but the payment will need to be rerouted through the regions as opposed to the Ministry of Public Health. The process will create a back and forth mechanism that will allow for more accountability but critics warn that it will open the door for a less streamlined system with a far more bureaucracy.
Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira noted that while the overall budget for drugs and medical supplies under the same line item for the Ministry of Public Health decreased from $1.9B in 2014 to $1.5B in 2015, that amount was not reflected at the regional level.
Teixeira asked for an explanation of how the figures were calculated for the 10 regions, while noting that there is a longstanding formula for the calculation of drugs and medical supplies. She also noted that some of the figures seemed rather low.
The allocations are as follows: $43.39M for Region 1; $87.91M for Region 2; $168.2M for Region 3; $226.78M for Region 4; $77.87M for Region 5; $195.5M for Region 6; $25.72M for Region 7; $22.46M for Region 8; $22M for Region 9; and $98.82M for Region 10.
In a brief interview after passing the estimates for regions 1, 2 and 3, Teixeira said there were many unanswered questions as it relates to just how the drug procurement will proceed.
She said the logistical issues were not addressed and that the regions were not equipped with storage facilities for large amounts of drugs.
She acknowledged that in the past under the PPP/C administration there were also logistical issues and that those matters needing addressing before the moving around of funding.
Teixeira clashed with Committee of Supply Chairman Barton Scotland as he attempted to curtail questions due to time constraints.
Teixeira countered that the line of questioning was important and the public as well as other members in the House would want to know how the budget was assembled and which formulas were adhered to and which ones were not.
Due to the intervention of the Chairman, the Minister did not answer the question and the line of questioning moved forward.
