Bodoe: Upgrade and modernise CDAP drugs | Local News
Some drugs that are being distributed through the Chronic Disease Assistance Plan (CDAP) have to be upgraded, and in some instances, more modern drugs need to be added to the programme.
This from Fyzabad Member of Parliament Dr Lackram Bodoe as he spoke in the House of Representatives, at the Red House, Port of Spain, yesterday.
Bodoe said patients suffering from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension should be treated with modern and updated drugs to reduce morbidity.
He said, for example, there are now newer types of insulin that are more effective and safer and could replace the insulin that is currently on the CDAP regimen.
“Many patients are being denied effective, life-saving medications because the Government is not purchasing these medications. In terms of diabetes, the only oral anti-diabetic drug that is available under the CDAP programme besides metformin is a drug called glycoside. This medication is used as what you would call a third-tier anti-diabetic medication, and it is not highly recommended,” Bodoe said.
Bodoe, a medical doctor for over three decades, suggested that the current CDAP list be upgraded with Diamicron MR 60mg for diabetics.
“We are saying Diamicron MR 60mg should be added to the CDAP. There are also new anti-diabetic drugs that can be added to CDAP…and if they are added and made available to numerous diabetics in this country, they can make a difference in their medical care,” he said.
He added: “There is a bone-protecting drug called Zemplar, which is used in renal dialysis patients and has been approved, but not yet purchased by the Government. This should also be added to CDAP to protect our population.”
Additionally, Bodoe said the current hypertension drug needs to be upgraded.
“The current drug of choice for hypertension are angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and this drug is yet to be added to CDAP. Therefore, if the minister is looking for suggestions for improvements in terms of how we treat hypertension, then this is what needs to be done to be added to the CDAP regimen,” he said.
Bodoe said that apart from drugs, diabetics are also in need of equipment and facilities to deliver modern, advanced health care.
He called for an update on the status of the National Renal Centre. “What is happening to the proposed plan by the Minister of Finance for the National Renal Centre? Here it was intended that all renal dialysis would be treated and then that disappeared from the last budget.
“This is important because the current situation with renal dialysis patients is that because of limited house capacity, many patients are outsourced to the private sector, and the problem with that is that the standard of care is not always appropriate, and there are many instances where these patients are receiving substandard care from some of these providers,” Bodoe said.
He added: “The issue of patients now having to purchase a portacath device that is inserted to allow them to have dialysis is something that is not currently available; there are shortages in the system, and they are asked to buy this privately. We are speaking about the poor and vulnerable. This costs $3,000 to $4,000,” Bodoe said.
He said the donor programme is also not functioning as it should.
“We spend $70 million per year outsourcing renal dialysis and look at what is happening with our clinical transport patient service and why it is not functioning properly.” Bodoe said.
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