Alfio Micallef Grimaud, Kappara
Unjust fee charged by pharmacies
For some time now I have been trying to find justifications for the fee which most pharmacies - and clinics - are charging when one goes to consult a doctor. And frankly I can find none. I remember the days when one had to visit a doctor at his own house where usually the front room was his clinic. Then came a time when pharmacies wanted to increase their business and doctors felt the need to widen their clientele. So the two interests merged and pharmacies started putting rooms at the disposal of doctors and specialists. The doctor (or specialist) could now move from one pharmacy to the other on different days of the week and the pharmacist could be assured that at least a high percentage of visiting patients would buy the prescribed medicine - and other necessities - at his pharmacy. What I am not so sure of is whether pharmacies charged doctors for the use of their clinics. If they did, so much the better for the pharmacist; if they did not it means that the pharmacist was happy with the business the doctor generated by his practice.
So, what has changed in the last couple of years? I do not think anything has. Pharmacies are still doing a brisk business and so are the doctors and specialists, judging from the difficulty one finds to make appointments. I think pharmacies have found it most convenient to get on the bandwagon which an enterprising Sliema pharmacist started rolling a couple of years ago, especially when nobody batted an eyelid. Perhaps buses could copy the procedure. You would be asked for a fee to go on the bus and then pay the fare to go to your destination. Or the mechanic would give you two bills, one for keeping your car in his workshop and the other for working on it.
I think this fee is unfair and unjust. The patient is not using the clinic as he would use the gym or the swimming pool or the sauna or the parking area. He goes to the pharmacy because the doctor happens to be there. It is the doctor who has chosen that particular pharmacy or clinic not the patient. If the pharmacist does not ask the doctor for rent because he fears he might go somewhere else that is the pharmacist's problem. This apart from the fact that your medical insurance will not refund you this fee.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
14 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
j grech
Mar 24th 2010, 23:14
i think it is diabolical to be charged a fee, most times i dont even get a seat so end up standing, many times the doctor has not even arrived and i stand outside untill he does so why should i pay a fee? most of all i object that all waiting patients can clearly hear every word between patient and doctor on the other side of the door, and how come that now malta is in the eu doctors are still treating females and minors without the presence of a nurse in attendance, or do they know this but have failed to let the public know their rights, or will they only regret that decision when they have been accused of malpractice and have no witness(nurse) to back them up
S. Vella
Mar 23rd 2010, 16:11
I personally, albeit part of the pharmaceutical industry, do not condone pharmacy fees charged to visiting patients.
On the other hand, one must remember that the pharmacist is probably the only professional that is not paid a consultation fee. His/her expertise is sought after, many times in lieu of a doctor, simply because it's free.
KJ Tabone
Mar 23rd 2010, 16:04
I think what people are failing to realise is that it costs to keep a clinic well stocked with consumable items, like gloves, disposable paper towels for the couch, and other equipment necessary and their maintenance, as well as the extra water and electricity needed to supply clinics.
Pharmacies that are extremely busy and generate a lot of income can probably afford not to charge a clinic fee. Others rent out their clinics to the doctors, and it is then the doctor who incorporates the extra charge as part of his/her fee without the patient's knowledge, whilst other pharmacis charge the patient directly.
I've been on both ends of the spectrum - worked at places where fees were not charged, and at others where they were. No one complained about it. I myself have visited hospital clinics where more exorbitant fees were charged, but I figure that if I have used their equipment I should pay for it and its maintenance if I am to expect a good service the next time I go.
Remember that doctors fees rise if they do home visits, so I'm not sure whether it's more profitable in any case.
lgalea
Mar 23rd 2010, 22:05
Do not the doctors pay the pharmacy owners rent or a percentage of their charge for every patient?
KJ Tabone
Mar 25th 2010, 12:08
I am not 100% sure since I'm not a pharmacy owner myself even though I am a pharmacist, but I think there are cases where the doctors are not charged rent for the use of a clinic, so then the pharmacy charges a clinic fee to the patient directly. However, I am fairly aware that there are cases where the clinic fee is incorporated (and hidden) with the doctor's fee so the patient only pays once, but at the end of the evening a certain amount goes to the pharmacy. Mind you, that 'cut' is relatively marginal.
Michael Debono
Mar 23rd 2010, 15:05
The problem of paying for waiting at the pharmacy, even if standing as there are not enough chairs has been created by pharmacists that are after money. Where the practice of paying to sit down is pracritised just don't buy your medicine ordered by the doctor from that particular pharmacy, there is no such obligation. There are still pharmacies that do not charge anything for waiting for appointment in Msida particularly and the pharmacy is very popular. The habit of paying substantially is genrally practiced in clinics without pharmacies such as an Msida one. The charge is separate from the doctor's fee. These waiting list fees are subject to VAT but no vat receipt is given.
S. Camilleri
Mar 23rd 2010, 14:42
Problem is that it costs a pharmacy money to maintain a clinic with airconditioning, clean bed, water, electricity, taking of appointments etc... all for your benefit. And then the doctor sees you, at a fee, as an extension of your free hospital service so you probably get most medicines free from government in any case... Very profitable!! So If you do not like it ask the Doctor to come to your house or go elsewhere ....
lgalea
Mar 23rd 2010, 22:03
Guess you must be one of the pharmacy owners who charge people for sitting down. If you are perhaps you would like to notify the readers of your pharmacy so that they will be able to avoid it and call the doctor at home as you suggested.
Jeremy Lanfranco
Mar 24th 2010, 02:51
All this luxury!! Many Pharmacy Clinics just fall short of a rubbish dump with dirty walls, narrow partitioned corridors and cubicles that fit the patient, doctor and the examination couch only. And they have the cheek to charge!
J Demicoli
Mar 23rd 2010, 14:13
I too find this charge simply disgusting. A greed uncalled for by our pharmacists who ploy on other people’s misery. However I have found a way to that suits me well in giving what belongs to Ceaser I give to Ceaser and what belongs to God I give to God.
Just before I pay my bill and buy any medicine or other prescriptions, I just ask the pharmacist or attendant whether I would be charged - for the seat -. If the answer is yes, then I would say point blank that I would ONLY pay for that “commodity”. Their profit would have been made in their quirky way.
The medicine and any other items I would need would be purchased from another pharmacy. Another pharmacy would surely exist within walking distance.
If more people adopt this system then the message might go through.
Wenzu Vella
Mar 23rd 2010, 13:36
I heard this from relatives, one them have told me that he always refuses to pay.Alfio you could try and do the same, just pay the doctor's fee and walk out, I don't think you would be breaking any law.
If you happen to get arrested and you finish in the big house at kordin don't worry I have relatives who work there, I put in a good word for you. Good luck........
R. Caruana
Mar 23rd 2010, 11:22
Strange as it might seem, a particular specialist sees his patients at three clinics. Of these, two have a charge for using the clinic and the third doesn't. This was found by accident as an appointment could not be kept at a certain pharmacy (that charges) and a later appointment was made elsewhere, were much to our surprise we found there was no charge.
So, shop around and boycot the clinics with charges. It's within one's right to ask if there's a charge for visiting the clinic when callling for an appointment, and if there is check whether that doctor or specialist calls at other clinics, which in most cases they do.
lgalea
Mar 23rd 2010, 14:37
You are perfectly correct. People should boycott pharmacies that charge for what they say is the use of a chair even if one does not sit down at all. Mind you this even happens in a particular private hospital which sometimes advertise a discount on some tests carried out there. This is the disgusting state of affairs that the authorities are allowing to continue apart from the theft from patients pockets by excessive prices that medicines cost in Malta compared to other eu countries.
Maria D.Sacco
Mar 23rd 2010, 10:26
A well written letter which - in my opinion - echoes the feeling of the majority of Maltese people. This practice brings to mind pictures of Dracula draining the already feeble victim.