People in urban and peri-urban areas in the country who wish to access free medication can get the application forms from their nearest health facility.

Minister for Health Jone Usamate said, “Application forms for the free medicine are available from any health facility in the country.

“For those who live in the interior, they may get the forms from the nearest health centre,” Mr Usamate said.

The Assistant Health Minister, Veena Bhatnagar, said the completed forms must be returned to any health facility close to them.

“For people in the rural areas, if you have filled in the form at a particular outlet, you have to return it to that health outlet or any public health outlet that is close to them,” Ms Bhatnagar said.

“It’s the responsibility of that outlet to give the forms back to the ministry,” Ms Bhatnagar said.

However, some rural health facilities are now providing free medicine.

“For people in the interior, free medicine is already being provided at Government health facilities,” Mr Usamate said.

The Minister said the list of pharmacies where free medicines could be obtained would be made available soon. This includes the list of those who had been registered.

Ms Bhatnagar is in Levuka, Ovalau, today touring health facilities there.

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