Bestmed Medical Scheme
Makes it difficult to provide service to patients

Good afternoon

I am a pharmacist and am struggling with the medical aid (Bestmed) to update a patients chronic medication. They do not accept the authority of a South African Registered Pharmacist to update a patients chronic medication. They will only update the script if they speak to a Doctor. I feel that this is discriminatory as I have fulfilled all the criteria to be able to dispense within the rules of the South African Pharmacy Council. The authorisation is a financial requirement and I will still be responsible for any medication I issue. I have the original Doctor's prescription with me to update the medication.

The fact that Bestmed refuses to speak to a Pharmacist to Update a patients chronic medication is disgraceful. Unless they provide me with a legal reason why a pharmacist cannot update a patients chronic medication I feel that they in violation of providing efficient service to the patient and also discriminatory to Pharmacists.

I have tried to speak to Jacky, Vanessa Prenand, Riaan and the CEO Dries Le Grange. This has all been to no avail as they refuse to make telephonic contact with a Pharmacist. This hampers service to patients.