Government keen on 'pharmacy of choice' scheme

The government is eager to reach agreement over the pharmacy-of-your-choice scheme, the health division said yesterday.

Confirming that discussions about the scheme had resumed, as reported in The Times yesterday, a spokesman for the division said the government believed there were a "multitude of benefits" to be gained by patients making eventual use of the service.

The Times yesterday reported discussions were underway between the government, the Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU) and the Chamber of Pharmacists over allowing people entitled to free medicines to pick them up from the pharmacy of their choice instead of from one of the nine government dispensaries.

When asked, the health division confirmed that Health Minister Louis Deguara had recently proposed the resumption of discussions during a meeting with the GRTU and the chamber.

However, the spokesman said, the latest round of talks was still at a preliminary stage and therefore "it would be premature and unprofessional to talk about the outcome".

Among other questions, the division was asked by The Times whether patients would have to pay for the service, what incentives would pharmacies be given to participate in the system and whether the nine government dispensaries would stop operating if the new system comes into force.