Possible *****, Waste and Abuse - Pharmacy Claims

Good day all,

I hereby want to formally inform the reader of possible *****, waste and abuse at Clicks Pharmacy Horizon Village (the practice number they gave me is ***) against Medical Schemes (Issue of schedule 4 drugs without a prescription).

Upon collecting my medication today, I was informed that my script expired in February 2023. I disputed the fact due to myself handing in a new script in Jan/ Feb 2023 requesting Clicks to capture the script (I did not take medication on the new script as I received meds not too long before). Clicks took my details on the day and confirmed they will capture the new script against name,

My monthly medication was collected in March 2023 from Clicks Pharmacy Horizon Village and no issue was experienced – No mention was made of an expired script as well. On 07 April 2023, I visited Clicks Pharmacy Horizon Village again and was informed that my script expired in Feb 2023 already and therefore Clicks refused to release meds to myself. They further stated that the last script captured against my name was in October 2022. Upon analyzing the meds and requesting a letter from my doctor, I am sure you will be able to establish why this medication is critical for my well-being. I therefore insisted that I handed in a new script in Jan/ Feb 2023, and I am not leaving the pharmacy without my medication. If Clicks didn’t capture the script in Jan/ Feb 2023, they must find my script and issue my medication. I further stated that a lady assisted me with my Jan/ Feb 2023 script, upon which Vincent Mabaso indicated that no lady was working – at this point they did not know the date I handed in my script. Therefore, he could not make that conclusion unless no female was working for the whole month of Jan/ Feb 2023 (he also didn't go check employee records). Click insisted that they have no record of the Jan/ Feb 2023 script on their system and therefore cannot issue the meds. They also stated that in March 2023 they already issued me with medication without a script (it seems like they knowingly issued meds without a script and at that point I was unaware of it). I questioned why they would issue me with meds without a script and it clearly indicates something is wrong on their systems relating to my profile. Multiple staff members (Ntombi Tshika, Vincent Mabaso and Sara-Jane Maringa - the manager) insisted that they ARE allowed to issue meds without a prescription (I believe all my meds are schedule 4 and higher which brings their statement into question). I threatened to report the fact that they issue meds without prescriptions to my medical aid and the pharmacy association after which Clicks Pharmacy Horizon Village agreed to give me my April 2023 meds and take my doctor’s details to contact her for a new script (post issuing of meds). They further stated that they issue the meds because I insisted and refused to leave the pharmacy. While I did insist, I made it clear to Clicks that I did not make the decision to issue meds without a prescription, but rather insisted they find my Jan/ Feb 2023 script and give me the meds based on that. I do acknowledge that I took the meds for April 2023 knowing that Clicks don’t have a script, however due to my health conditions and their failures I was not left with much of a choice (my doctor’s rooms were closed as it is a public holiday). I further acknowledge that Bonitas might not honor the claims or reverse the payments due to the “missing” script. Due to Clicks Pharmacy Horizon Village losing my script and issuing me with meds without a script, I do deem it important to report this incident and provide context as to why I accepted the medication in April 2023.

The incident is regrettable as the pharmacy staff was not helpful at all and gave the continuous impression that I am lying. While I made significant progress over the last few months regarding my health, the anger during and after the incident set me a few steps back in my recovery process which I solely blame on Clicks Pharmacy Horizon Village.

Also note that issuing high schedules of drugs without a script (as the pharmacy insist is normal practice) might result in easy access to prescription drugs for addicts.

Should you require further information, feel free to contact me. I hope to have feedback on this complaint soon.

Regards,