Medicine price claims denied

The Ministry of Health has rebutted Labour leader Alfred Sant's claims that the price of medicine will go up after June 12, when the European parliament elections will be held.

The ministry said the price of medicine goes up by an average 12 per cent each year, as shown by government expenditure which had doubled in the past eight years.

It said no extra tax had been introduced on medicine, according to an agreement reached between the government and the European Union not to introduce VAT on pharmaceuticals until 2010.

The ministry expressed incomprehension at the link made by Dr Sant between the price of medicine and the elections.