THE Department of Public Health and Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero have requested PHI Pharmacy to extend its hours of operations to 24 hours a day for seven days a week.
Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider, in two letters to PHI Pharmacy general manager Theodore R. Parker, said it is time for the pharmacy to “reassess” its hours of service “to respond better” to the needs of the community.
“We want to break down barriers to medical care, toward a patient-friendly environment,” Hofschneider said yesterday.
While the Commonwealth Health Center provides medical services to patients for 24 hours a day and seven days a week, their relatives have to come back several hours later to pick up their prescription medications.
PHI Pharmacy’s current hours of operations are only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and only up to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Hofschneider said this is a major inconvenience and a barrier to medical care of the patients and their families living on the southern and eastern parts of Saipan, and who don’t have proper transportation.
“Needless to say, failure to fill their prescription medications may result in worsening of their illness, costly hospitalization, if not death,” said Hofschneider.
Parker, in a response letter, said PHI Pharmacy is still reviewing the request.
Hofschneider said the CNMI’s population has grown to 70,000 and PHI Pharmacy has, for several years now, enjoyed exclusive rights to provide outpatient pharmaceuticals at the lone hospital on Saipan.
Guerrero, American Reform-Saipan, also brought up the issue of limited hours of service during Hofschneider’s Senate confirmation hearing, and strongly suggested that it be required to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
San Roque clinic
In related news, Hofshneider said the new clinic that will open in San Roque will offer children immunization, women’s care or prenatal care. The services will be expanded in the future.
“This clinic will serve the northern part of Saipan. They need not go all the way to Garapan to visit CHC. The clinic visit will be on an appointment basis,” he said.
The three-examination room facility will open in the next month or two, pending the arrival of medical equipment and supplies, as well as the concrete paving of the parking lot.
Public Health is currently soliciting community assistance for the parking lot’s concrete paving.
