Over 200 pharmacies willing to distribute free medicine

Practically all the pharmacies in Malta have registered to take part in the pharmacy of your choice scheme.

Only eight of the 209 pharmacies in the country have not yet registered, the president of the Chamber of Pharmacists, Maryanne Sant Fournier told The Times.

"It was a resounding success and means that all areas on the island will be well served when the system starts," she said.

When contacted, Ms Sant Fournier said consent forms were sent to all local pharmacies and the vast majority have already pledged their support. She pointed out that the handful that have not yet registered can still do so.

The chamber signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the scheme with the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU just over a month ago.

The scheme - which has been in the pipeline for 20 years - will mean patients entitled to free medicines would be able to collect them from their chosen pharmacy rather than state pharmacies, thus reducing the long queues that patients have to brave in order to collect medicines.

Medicinals would be prepared in the central state pharmacy and then delivered to the pharmacy of the patient's choice.

A pilot project for residents of Naxxar, Mellieha, Mgarr, St Paul's Bay and Gharghur is expected to kick off shortly. These residents currently pick up their medicines from the Mosta health centre. Mosta residents would still call at the health centre for the duration of the pilot project.

Ms Sant Fournier said 17 pharmacies in those localities have registered, meaning that there were enough to proceed with the pilot project.

A standing advisory committee has been set up and is working to implement the project. Ms Sant Fournier said that in the coming days the committee's chairman would be writing to the pharmacies that did not register asking whether they wish to join or opt out of the system.

About 103,000 patients are entitled to free medicines. There are eight community pharmacies apart from pharmacies in each state hospital. According to the Chamber of Pharmacists, the current distribution system, defunct in the rest of the EU, is costing the government just under Lm1 million a year.

The government will be paying pharmacies Lm8 a year for every patient who makes use of their service but patients will not pay anything.