Once again, the auditor general report blasts Health Canada for its management of the federal drug benefits program for eligible status Indians living on and off reserves and for Inuit. The auditor's May 2006 report finds that the number of clients obtaining more than 50 prescriptions over a three-month period has almost tripled since the AG last reported on the program in 2000.

One of the reasons for ballooning prescriptions is Health Canada not tracking who gets what and how many prescriptions. Thus, prescription drugs can be sold on the street, are subject to abuse and result in huge monetary loss for taxpayers.

The federal government provides Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) to eligible status Indians and Inuit. Non-insured health benefits include prescription drugs, medical transportation, dental, medical supplies and equipment, vision, crisis intervention counseling, and provincial health care premiums, (where applicable). The NIHB program costs taxpayers more than $550 million each year.

In September 2002, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of the federal government began a consent form program to gather information from individuals who access the medically required health care benefits provided under the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program. The process was required in order to meet federal, provincial and territorial privacy requirements.

Consent would provide the NIHB with the ability to better target benefits; reduce abuse and misuse by sharing information with prescribers, providers and clients and to properly manage the program. In plain language - to provide taxpayers information how the money is spent and provide better services to users.

The consent form program was killed due to loud opposition from Indian lobby groups such as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). The AFN claimed the consent forms would result in the privacy of status Indians and Inuit being jeopardized. What is truly amazing is that the consent - sought by NIHB - is required of any Canadian who wishes to receive benefits.

Tracking health records to avoid fraudulent use of the system is not brain surgery. Several provinces have passed legislation that mandates the collection of health records. Why have average Canadians not protested the disclosure of electronic health records; because Canadians realize it will reduce the duplicate lab tests, speed up diagnosis, reduce fraud and provide overall better care.

It is time Health Canada followed the AG's recommendations and acted in the best interest of NIHB clients and taxpayers by tracking the health records of NIHB clients. Until then, taxpayers will continue to see their hard earned money wasted in an unaccountable system.