Government pharmacies to close at noon in new action

Government pharmacists will be closing shop at noon on Wednesday as the Union Haddiema Maghqudin steps up its industrial action.

The union last month issued a number of directives after accusing the government of failing to submit counterproposals over the issue of staff shortages. The union said it had made its proposals about 10 months ago.

The union said it had been informed that the government had appointed a board to draw up the counterproposals over three months ago but nothing has come of it. The fresh actions come as the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses called off its own actions that were planned to come into effect on Monday. In a similar dispute over staff shortages, the MUMN had called on its members to shut down district health centres and, most controversially, to stop being on call at Mater Dei's Renal Unit. However, they called the actions off in order to have talks with the Social Policy Ministry.

Pharmacists last month were instructed not to accept e-mails that did not concern supplies and to ignore all pneumatic tube communication. A week earlier they had been ordered to work to rule, shun management or administrative meetings and not to perform additional duties. Moreover, they were instructed to start work an hour late as from last week.

If the situation remains un-changed, the union warned it will suspend the government pharmacy service as from December 1.

Until then, the pharmacists will continue to provide medicine and assist the public in critical situations, but calls for information will not be taken.