Jimmy M. Briffa, Żabbar
Medical prescriptions need monitoring
The proposal put forward by the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry regarding "changes" in the Pharmacy of Your Choice and the system of free medicines is a non-starter for various reasons.
The chairman of the Healthcare Section of the Chamber, Reginald Fava, who is also an importer, proposed that patients (the great majority pensioners) pay for the free medicines and afterwards will be reimbursed by the government.
The Chamber should know that pensioners cannot afford to pay for higher priced medicines and be reimbursed a part of the price of medicines. This will lead them to fall into the poverty bracket. On the other hand the government would incur extra expenses and this not only on the administrative side but also on the medicines themselves. The solution for the government to curb abuses is strict surveillance on issuers of prescriptions. Another avenue is that since this is a system of free medicines the government can import medicines directly. The system proposed is not sustainable to the great majority of pensioners and the country.
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Janet Bayes
Oct 22nd 2009, 17:56
@Charles Muscat - - believe me love, medicines are not issued from the gozo hospital pharmacy until they are really needed. I have been refused a prescription on previous occasion, as I still had some tablets (about a weeks worth). Having stood in the queue for 2 hours, I was not happy to think I had to do it again in a week!! Free medicines for some conditions are a good thing, but only if they are available when it is convenient for THE PATIENT (or their representative) to collect them.
The system for paying for medicines still means a queue, and reimbursement is a real joke. Even getting the necessary paperwork to get the drugs for free is a farce. Its not more red tape is needed, its ease of the system to SUIT THE CONSUMER - - otherwise known as the patient.
Charles Muscat
Oct 22nd 2009, 13:23
I agree with Mr. Briffa on if the prescriptions are made from date to date. When my father passed away some time ago he had medication left over in his drawer to supply a chemist.
If a prescription is supplied today the GP should not allow another prescrition before the time is due. A system all over the country should be met so there will be no cheats from one chemist to the other.
Victor Ross
Oct 22nd 2009, 13:03
I totally agree with you Mr.Briffa. If the importers have a problem getting paid from the Govt they should sort it out with him and leave us pensioners out of the equation. If the Govt goes for this kind of scheme he might as well call it a day.