Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have raised the issue of non-insured health benefits before in this House. The NIHB has recently had some major changes. I understand that approximately 640 previous prescription and off-the-shelf drugs are no longer listed or covered under the NIHB. To my knowledge, there was no press release, communiqué or media advisory to let the general public know about this. Most people only found out about it when they went to their local pharmacy.
Mr. Speaker, was our territorial Department of Health advised of these changes prior to them coming into force? Was our government consulted on the changes? The federal government continues to download costs to the residents and we seemingly roll over on the issues. I am of the understanding that the changes made to prescriptions and drugs were because there are cheaper substitutes available in the marketplace. That may be, but are they available at our northern pharmacies here in the north?
For example, Mr. Speaker, if hypothetically hydroxyl is available and is under the NIHB, why would a pharmacy stock an equivalent drug, for example, amberflin. Our doctors probably prescribe the drugs or prescriptions that are readily available, not necessarily what is cheaper or a substitute. The approximate 640 over-the-counter and prescription drugs that are no longer under the NIHB should have been listed and supplied to our medical practitioners. Has that been done?
Mr. Speaker, I would hope that our Minister for Health will and has addressed these concerns with his federal counterpart and later today, I will be asking the Minister some questions on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.