Government Overhauls Chronic Disease Medication List

Health Ministry Initiates Review to Better Serve Population Needs

The government is actively reviewing the medications available through the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP). Health Minister Dr. Lakram Bodoe confirmed that consultations are underway to update the list of drugs used for prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension.

CDAP Review Underway

Minister **Dr. Bodoe** stated that the review process has commenced with the aim of aligning the program with the evolving health requirements of the population. Financial considerations for the upcoming budget cycle are being factored into this evaluation, and input from organizations such as the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago (DATT) is being welcomed.

This initiative follows a year after Finance Minister **Colm Imbert** remarked on the increasing difficulty in funding essential medications, including those supplied via CDAP. At the time, **Mr. Imbert** highlighted a significant rise in healthcare expenditure, from $1 billion in the early 2000s to nearly $8 billion in 2024, while assuring that the CDAP program itself would not be cut.

New Support for Diabetic Children

In a related development, **Dr. Bodoe** announced that the Cabinet has approved DATT’s request to procure continuous glucose monitoring devices for children with diabetes. Procurement is slated to begin in the next fiscal year, offering a vital new tool for managing the condition in young patients.

The Ministry is also enhancing diabetes care by extending operating hours at health centers and standardizing Diabetes Wellness Clinics across regional health authorities. These clinics act as intensive, multidisciplinary support programs for patients referred from chronic disease clinics. As of December 2024, 2,147 individuals were enrolled, with 90.6% receiving treatment for uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes.

Further initiatives focus on diabetic foot care, including a national screening tool rollout and the provision of specialized offloading boots to mitigate amputation risks. This is a critical area, as the public health system performed 484 major lower limb amputations in 2024, with diabetes accounting for 269 of these procedures.

The efforts reflect a broader commitment to public health, building on the significant increases in healthcare spending. For instance, in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that in 2022, over 37 million Americans had diabetes, with the total cost of diagnosed diabetes estimated at $357 billion annually (CDC, 2022).