UHM calls for investment in state pharmacies

The Union Haddiema Maqghudin was not against patients getting a better service, the union said in reaction to the government's pharmacy-of-your-choice scheme.

It appeared that private pharmacies would be doing work that was being done by the health centres, the union said in a statement.

This meant that if a type of medicine was out of stock, patients would still not be served.

While everything had to be done to reduce queues, this could only be achieved if the Health Department invested more in its own pharmacies.

The Chamber of Pharmacists was aware, the union noted, that only the owners of the pharmacies would benefit from the scheme. The UHM represented the majority of employed pharmacists, and it had no problem going to the industrial tribunal to sort out the recognition issue, it added.

The Chamber of Pharmacists represents pharmacists who own pharmacies and it (the Chamber) has regularly objected to the issuing of new licences for pharmacies, the UHM said.

The opening of new pharmacies would lead to new jobs for pharmacists.