Cholesterol-lowering medicine

In its frenzy to cut down on its expenditure (of course, not on the luxury of their travels, cars or entertainment), the government may be jeopardising the lives of people who may need a particular medicine because of their illness or condition.

The latest proof of this is the decision by the Minister of Health, Louis Deguara, to replace the cholesterol-lowering pills, Lescol 80mg by the pills Zocor 20mg.

Since Lescol 80mg pills will still be available in private pharmacies, I can only conclude that the decision has been taken to economise on the cost of free medicines.

It has been reported that in order to have the same effect of the Lescol XL 80mg pills, a double dose of Zocor 20mg pills must be taken since one dose of Zocor 20mg pills is equivalent to a 40mg dose of a Lescol 80mg pill.

I appeal to the Labour shadow health minister, Michael Farrugia, to publicly comment on this decision in order to put patients' mind at rest - if this change does not create any problem. Or to put pressure on the government, and particularly the Minister of Health, to change his decision, if a grave problem truly exists for patients needing cholesterol-lowering medicine.