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Torres: PHI operation will ensure continuity of service
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres believes that extending PHI Pharmacy’s operation at the Commonwealth Health Center assures that medication would be provided to patients of the CNMI’s lone government healthcare facility.
PHI’s lease in operating at the hospital is set to expire in August this year and Torres is hoping that Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther L. Muna would renew the pharmacy’s lease.
Muna plans to apply for the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which would give CHCC the chance to provide quality and low-cost medicine to its patients and the community.
Although he is not fully aware of the specifics of the 340B program, Torres said it is not known how long the application process would take.
“They [CHCC] should be applying in July. My whole purpose of making it an issue, that we should give PHI extension, is there’s an application process in July. I don’t know if it would take 60 days or 30 days or one day for the result to come out, and whether it is approved or not.”
“In the meantime I would not, in no circumstances, jeopardize or risk the pharmaceutical service that is not operational to provide medicine for the community simply because we are waiting for the result or response from the agency.”
He added that continuity in providing medication is vital to the community. “By us providing and assisting and giving PHI an extension would not in any way jeopardize anybody.”
Torres said that asking PHI to leave without the assurance of the 340B program in place is a chance he does not want to take. “I am not willing to take the chance. There is no risk worth the chance of removing and not providing medication to our people.”
