Chamber, UHM stake claim to pharmacists' representation

The Malta Chamber of Pharmacists insisted yesterday it represents all types of pharmacists and not only those who own a pharmacy, as claimed by the Union Haddiema Maghqudin.

The chamber said that if the union persisted in this misrepresentation it would take the matter to the Industrial Relations Tribunal.

On Tuesday, the UHM directed pharmacists working in government pharmacies not to take part in the pharmacy-of-your-choice scheme, claiming it had been left out of discussions. It claimed representation of pharmacists, saying the chamber only acted on behalf of owners.

However, the chamber said that, apart from being a trade union, it was also a member of the Malta Federation of Professional Associations as it was a professional association whose officers and council members were all registered pharmacists. "It is the Malta Chamber of Pharmacists, not the UHM, that is the non-governmental organisation qualified to be consulted on professional matters relating to the practice of pharmacy by licensed pharmacists in Malta, irrespective of their area of practice," it maintained.

The chamber said it did not try to negotiate the working conditions of government pharmacists with regard to the pharmacy-of-your-choice scheme, because they had made it clear they were no longer interested in the chamber's representation.

The chamber pointed out that it had been through "long and difficult" negotiations with the government over the scheme, and this started well before government pharmacists decided to join the UHM.

It also pointed out that it was the government's prerogative, as the employer of government pharmacists, to consult the UHM.