GWU criticises Chamber proposal on free medicines

Asking people to fork out money to buy medicines they were entitled to for free, even though they would later be refunded, went against social justice, the General Workers' Union said yesterday.

Some people on social benefits, such as pensioners, did not have the money to fork out upfront, the union insisted.

The GWU was expressing its disagreement with proposals made by the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry for a revision of the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme, which allows patients to pick up medicines they are entitled to from their chosen private pharmacy instead of from a government pharmacy.

The chamber's proposals include a voucher system for people who cannot afford to pay upfront, to which the GWU agreed saying this was fairer to vulnerable sectors of society.

The Labour Party called on the government to ensure pharmacies that fell under the scheme were provided with enough stock to cater for people's needs, as lack of stock was forcing patients entitled to free medicines to purchase them instead.