Government pharmacists

I was the pioneer who had worked hard to introduce the Union Haddiema Maghqudin to government pharmacists. I am aware that the UHM is supporting my former colleagues. It is a real shame that other selfish people are taking advantage of the situation that government pharmacists are unfortunately enduring, by getting pictures of long queues of waiting patients who are, however, not obliged to pay clinic fees. They do this in order to promote the "Pharmacist of Your Choice" (POYC) - which would charge a fee per patient, of course!

It is very unfair to speak in public as though government pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are the ones to blame for the stressful situation. Private pharmacies are the only profession in Malta that enjoy a monopoly even though there are about 300 pending applications to establish new pharmacies. A dentist, for example, who invests thousands of liri in his clinic does not enjoy the privilege of ensuring that no other dentist establishes a new clinic in his vicinity. Now private pharmacy owners want more, and are finding the right moment to take advantage of these over-worked and dedicated government dispensers.

Do you know that there is hardly one government pharmacist who is 40 or more years old? They all resigned.

Do you know that the pharmacy technicians' course was dropped during the past years because of people who were totally against the recognition of the IHC course standards? Once nurses and physiotherapists, for example, got the IHC qualifications, they were immediately entitled to their warrant. Pharmacy technicians were the only paramedics who had to sit for another set of examinations with extremely high failure rates. I had tried to give advice but it always fell on deaf ears. In The Times archives one may also find reports about when the Chamber of Pharmacists was at odds with MAM, and referring to the POYC, president Ms Sant Fournier had admitted the "phasing out of the health centre pharmacies".

Do you know that government pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are not even entitled to free basic medicines, and at the same time have to serve with a smile their other fellow colleagues (doctors, nurses, health assistants and the like)? Unbelievable!

Do you know that in some places they are so understaffed that they cannot rotate working on alternate Saturdays?

And finally, do you know that hundreds of patients may come coughing and sneezing in their faces, thus running the risk of catching infections?

So UHM has a further task. It is not enough to put pressure on the government to employ more staff. UHM has to see why others are leaving the public sector as well and that the pharmacy technicians' course (now at MCAST) gains the momentum required, as otherwise, the brain-drain story will repeat itself, year after year!

Don't make such a terrible fuss when something is out of stock at a government pharmacy. This also happens in private pharmacies, when a branded product that you are willing to pay bitterly for, is not simply out of stock, but no longer being imported to Malta!

Government pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should be praised for enduring their stressful work environments, and for stretching their extremely delicate services to their limits. God is with them!