IT'S A case of survival of the fittest, in a painful wait to access free prescription drugs at the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine.

From as early as 3 a.m., scores of persons converge on the hospital's pharmacy to secure a space in a line with the hope of receiving medication prescribed by doctors.

Cursing the chilly winds of the morning, an elderly man on Wednesday bemoans his predicament as he leans against a grille next to the pharmacy.

Animated discussion

Discontent spills over into animated discussion about the treatment handed down to "poor people" as many level sharp criticism at the institution and the Government.

"We stand up like a cow inna di line; dem people don't care bout wi," the obviously peeved man says.

By 7:30 a.m., the line has grown, numbering more than 100 persons. This appears to be the modus operandi at the pharmacy, as many persons inform this reporter that they have had to turn up early in order to be listed among the 150 to be served on any given day.

At 8 a.m., a female worker at the pharmacy distributes tickets numbered from one to 150. Persons with prescriptions are required to remain in the line as they collect numbers.

Just the beginning

Collecting a number for prescription drugs is just the beginning of the day's ordeal. At 8:30 a.m. the pharmacy is opened, signalling the beginning of another long wait for the dispensing of medication.

Drugs are dispensed to persons who have received numbers over 100, late in the afternoon. The pharmacy closes at 4 p.m.

But another serious problem experienced by many who turn up to collect the free prescription drugs, is the unavailability of the drugs.

Many persons, after waiting for hours to get a number to fill their prescriptions, discover that the pharmacy does not have certain drugs.

A member of the pharmacy staff examines the prescriptions and indicates whether they are in stock.

When contacted, Chief Executive Officer of the Spanish Town Hospital, Dr David Coombs, said he could not comment on the matter at that time. He told The Sunday Gleaner on Friday that he would respond to the concerns this week, following discussions with ministry officials.

On Friday, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) raised concerns that the Government's policy of removing user fees at hospitals was placing the country's health-care system under immense pressure.

Resources unavailable

Meanwhile, Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson, argued that the problem might push the health sector to the brink of collapse.

Dr Ferguson said the additional resources required to improve the country's health-care system were unlikely to be available, given the current economic pressures facing the Government.

The PNP health spokesperson called on the Government to conduct an urgent review of the no-user-fee policy, with a view to determining an alternative plan.

The Government removed the user fees previously charged by hospitals in April 2008 and Health Minister Ruddy Spencer has already reported a sharp increase in the number of prescriptions being presented at public pharmacies.

Spencer had announced measures to address this problem and yesterday, parliamentary secretary in the health ministry, Aundre Franklyn, told The Sunday Gleaner that changes had been made in the operation of the Health Corporation to match the flow and quantity of drugs demanded.

The Health Corporation is the state entity that provides pharmaceuticals and medical sundries to the public-health sector.