The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

National Health Insurance will put pharmacies out of business!

I have been a practising pharmacist for almost 15 years now. I feel that I have worked hard to build an honest and respectable business. I would consider myself middle class and because of my hard work I have managed to provide a decent life for my family. I have chosen to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation and write in the hope that my plea does not fall on deaf ears.

With the introduction of the National Drug Plan, my business took a serious financial hit, so much so that it almost put me out of business. I had to let a staff member go because I couldn’t afford to pay her.

With the introduction of NHI in 2016, I can almost guarantee that I will have to close my doors. It is not that I disagree in principal on the idea of Universal Health, the problem is that this country cannot afford it, I cannot afford it and my business cannot afford it.

If the government increases the number of “free” drugs we are finished. Their argument has been that although our income per drug might be less, the number of clients will increase to make up for the difference. I can guarantee this will not be the case and the potential small increase in clientele will not pay the bills.

Look at who we have making these decisions for us. The majority are lawyers who have no idea what it costs to run a business in this country.

There is also a doctor heading the team, and although he made major contributions in the field of infectious diseases, he was a failure in business. It is no secret amongst the medical profession that the belief is that much of what Dr Gomez is doing is driven by this fact — and, of course, don’t let anyone try to stand in his way.

DISTRAUGHT PHARMACIST

Nassau,

March 26, 2015,