Appeals on temporary pharmacy licence

A decision by the Civil Court to award the owner of Chemimart a temporary pharmacy licence has sparked three appeals, which started being heard yesterday.

The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, five pharmacy owners in Republic Street, Valletta, the Chamber of Pharmacists and the government appealed following a judgment delivered by Mr Justice Joseph Zammit Mckeon on April 7.

The issue arose after the owner of the Chemimart at City Gate Arcades was told to move elsewhere because of the redevelopment of the area.

Outlets were given the option of either getting compensation or alternative premises. However, Chemimart owner Reginald Fava refused to close his pharmacy. He was given alternative premises but the place needed to be renovated before he moved in and he, therefore, applied for a temporary licence to operate from his Republic Street shop.

The health authorities refused the application but Mr Fava went to court and the judge ordered the Medicines Authority to issue the temporary licence.

The GRTU, the Chamber of Pharmacists and the pharmacies involved are insisting that, according to law, new pharmacies had to be 300 meters away from existing ones, which the Chemimart in Republic Street would not be.

They also argued that the judge did not have the authority to order the issue of a temporary licence, a point supported by the government in its own appeal.