To the Editor:
I read with much sadness of the impending end of pharmacy operations at Waltz Pharmacy on Main Street in Damariscotta. The loss of the last independent pharmacy in town is indeed a sad day.
For a long time I have had my prescriptions filled there and been completely satisfied with the service and help. Before that, for no particular reason, I used Briggs Drug Store. Both on Main Street, both kept earnings local and plowed back into the local economy.
That Waltz Pharmacy is planning to unilaterally transfer all prescription records to Hannaford Brothers grocery store in Damariscotta appalls me. I always thought that prescription records were confidential. A couple of years ago, I needed a copy of my prescription record for tax purposes and, rightfully, I had to sign a written request for that record to be disclosed to me, the patient. A quick perusal of Maine’s laws found evidence that all prescription records are confidential, just like a doctor’s.
To transfer my records to a firm, European owned by Delhaize Group in Belgium, is just plain wrong. Hannaford has a documented record of being unable to protect confidential information – I had credit card information compromised.
The thought of having health records which include, in addition to prescriptions, my name, address, date of birth, phone number, and social security number sent to a firm with a dubious records of security scares me.
On top of that, who except me knows where I wish to have future prescriptions filled? Who knows which pharmacies are part of my health insurer’s provider network so that my prescriptions will be covered by insurance?
Ken Maguire, South Bristol
