Dear Editor,
I am a diabetic patient who depends on MBS for my medication. About eight months ago, my doctor put me on Ozempic because other medications were not working well for me. So far, it has been helping and controlling my blood sugar. However, the problem I am facing is the constant delays at Medical Benefits.
When I take my prescription to be filled, I am only given three pens for a once-a-week medication. There are four weeks in most months—and sometimes five—so how am I only receiving three pens for one month?
Another issue is the constant need to reapply for the medication. I am a diabetic and require medication continuously. Why do I need to reapply every three months, especially when the doctor’s fee is over $300? I am a low-income earner; I cannot afford to pay more than $300 every three months and still not receive my medication.
They take forever to approve life-saving drugs. I have been out of my medication for two weeks, and when I call, I am told the person responsible is on vacation. So there is only one person doing that job? No one else can fill in until that person returns?
This Ozempic regimen needs to be revised. These are life-saving drugs for some of us, and if it cannot be managed properly, it should not be done at all. I have made numerous complaints to the staff because I am not sure they fully understand the medication. Whoever is in charge needs to take feedback from those of us who actually use it.
I now have to be going to the hospital for insulin because my blood sugar is rising by the day. I am urging the decision-makers at Medical Benefits to please look into this, because my life depends on this drug.
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This is so sad because even before we get our wages and salaries our MB contributions are deducted. It is very unfair to the persons who depends on MBS for these life saving medications.
They need to do better because we are paying for a service even when we are not using it.
Thank God for a drug that helps but I guarantee you if you had been to one of the old school doctors, you would have been put on a regimen that also works
Exercise Diet and a combination of 3drugs that don’t cost so much but would help
And insulin always gets the job done
So stop the entitlement whining
I was happy to read recently that the government is planning to do something about the number of sugary drinks that are sold islandwide. While that is a good move, there need to be a whole new shift in how we do things St home because we are creating and raising a ton of kids that by the time they are adults, many of them would have to be living on insulin, blood pressure pills and more. Healthy living doesn’t start at 50. It starts from infant stages and most times the bad eating habits are encouraged by parents. Children today are less active than in times past. They do not have to go to village pipe for water, they do not have to help parents in the vegetable garden, they do not have to walk to church, supermarket, shop, school or anywhere. They have no bicycles or any such things. Most of their leisure time is spent sitting behind a phone, tablet and computer and enjoying all the sweets and bad foods that you can think of. And they go through life like this until they are grown adults and the effects of diabetes , high blood pressure and more starts to manifest itself. We need to start eating healthy early and exercise regularly.
“These are life-saving drugs for some of us, and if it cannot be managed properly, it should not be done at all.”
If that is how you feel why are you still running behind them for this drug? If they can’t supply it for you perhaps it’s best you source it elsewhere. But as you are crying over a $300 doctor bill every 3 months I don’t believe it is within your budget to go out and purchase a drug that cost several hundred USD per single pen…and as a low income individual your own monthly contributions to MBS probably doesn’t cover the cost of the 3 pens you are even getting.
I understand it can be frustrating to be dependent on a system to survive but we also need to understand there are a lot of moving parts in the process of supplying medication especially when we don’t make any of them ourselves.
I don’t hear anyone cussing out Dominica when bananas go scarce. Or KFC when they run out of chicken thighs.
I am truly sorry that it is stressing you out so much to rely on the MBS to provide you this medication but if you have no other options but to do so perhaps it’s best to start looking into alternatives. Diet, exercise, it seems insulin does help some so maybe in combination with other things it can help. I don’t know your situation but I sure hope you are at least trying other methods too.
I hope you get the answers you were looking for by posting this letter. Best of luck to you.
Chet Greene, Darryl Matthew, PM Gaston Browne
and the Vice Chancellor of UWI Five Islands: keep Ai out of your mouths; especially when government functions are not uterlizing the most basic of digital technologies, a situation that’s allowing for low productivity and poor public services.
This matter illustrates the failures of the ABLP Government, the The Minister of Health the MBS
any others responsible for policy and processes in Government; as well as The Opposition Party UPP who I’ll give a significant portion of the blame.
They just can’t react and criticize as an opposition party, they have to show leadership in ideas and policies.
The issue is:
It appears the MBS is rationing the issuance of the drug for it’s a very expensive drug; which is now primarily used as a vanity drug and not a medical drug.
The blame belongs all of the above mentioned entities as well as the unmentioned for their failure in establishing exemptions to coverage or limits on the coverage some drugs.
This matter is beyond frustrating people who are entitled to their medication.
Those in leadership and those who want to lead the Government, are making yourselves look like a backwater third world country.
As a country we have to to start punching in weight class.
How about paying attention to peoples basic needs?
The UPP no different from the ABLP government in this and other regard; for they themselves has not put forward any policy initiatives that addresses changing human needs in Antigua and Barbuda.
If the UPP wants to be considered a viable alternative, it has to present policy ideas and initiatives that addresses the public human needs and stop being reactionary.
This is a political issue. People’s lives and health are at risk.
In the case of the writter and Ozempic patient, who has been subjected to this behavior that’s tantamount to medical abuse.
What national policy has been considered or offered in this and similar regards?
Is there an effective and efficient policy and process whereby MBS is able to verify “medical
necessity”?
From the patient writing, this stems from a lack “Medical Necessity” policy managed only manually by monthly letter from the doctor; when it is so easy to be managed digitally.
Further it points out there isn’t any organizational structure for staff backup; to carry out critical medical care needs at MBS.?
In the world where medicine and healthcare is implementing AI technology for much more complex and advanced purposes.
It’s amazing this situation that can be solved, and which offer itself to a simple digital solution; is crying out to be addressed, while the previously mentioned individuals keep harping AI. Ai,Ai, at UVI Five Islands.
To the one saying stopped your whining. This is why I hate Antoguan mentality. People like you make me sick. You people have no empathy. Antiguans have no empathy and don’t care about anyone except themselves or their family members. If this was your grandmother or sister im sure you’d be talking differently. ANTIGUANS LACK EMPATHY. We are doomed as a nation because our system is broken but to the people who already got things, handouts and positions, they dont give a damn about other people. People like you should just keep quiet. You have nothing to contribute but try to bring people down when they have REAL ISSUES. what you knwow about the woman’s health what she has tried. Diabetes has many factors and if a patient gets a treatment that is working. who are you to say she is whining. Poor people are paying tax. Why should we still be suffering to get medication that we need. Peoples plea for help in this country is always seen as an attack on our broken system or government. People have needs. I hate the way we think on this island always dismissing peoples pleas for help. These things can be a matter or LIFE OR DEATH. but you dont care about this person. I really am afraid to see what antigua will become in the next 10 years. Remember people this behaviour will continue into the future generations. Your children will inherit these wicked ways of you people who only think of yourselves. I hope you never get ill and need a drug you can’t afford. I hope this lady gets some help cause we antiguans treat each other like dogs.