Peter Murray, Mosta
Immediate action needed on medicine prices
The long-standing arguments relating to the vast discrepancies in the prices of medicine when compared to other EU countries (or the rest of the world for that matter) are compelling and warrant immediate addressing.
Surely, on this vital subject regarding medicine prices, the government must intervene and can no longer turn a blind eye (patches to cover such are also much more expensive here in Malta). Surely, it must apply the principle of the free trade market to the medicine importers who have long determined prices that in effect hold the country's sick and needy to ransom.
We urgently require a cost-controlling and fair pricing authority to monitor and regulate the cost of these vital medicines and not allow these importers to profiteer from distressed people and their abso-lute dependency on medicines.
This iniquitous situation must cease forthwith as a reasonable profit from business is one thing, but to take advantage of indisposed and highly dependent people is cruel and unjust.
Action is called for with immediate effect.
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gaffarena joseph
Jun 22nd 2010, 23:33
Be sure that these high prices will remain the same.
This have been going on for many years now,and only words materialized.
Nearly all medicines are 40%,higher than any euro country,and administration
after another and these prices kept on increasing.
Former minister for health John Dalli,said in public that it is very hard to trace every
item,because they change the cost etc,nearly every day.
Is this not a maltese mafia??
J. Debono
Jun 22nd 2010, 12:02
As far as my knowledge goes,
all Maltese people who suffers from a chronic disease is eligible for free medication, irrelevant of income,
whilst people on low income can take a whole variety of medicine including stick, bandages etc.
Also, there are what are called generics in the market for the rest of the people, which are cheaper than the original product.
So what is the fuss about actually? I don't buy medicine on a daily basis.
Joseph Calleja
Jun 22nd 2010, 15:06
"Also, there are what are called generics in the market for the rest of the people, which are cheaper than the original product." What kind of a statement is that? "For the rest of the people?" That's a very insensitive statement to make.The doctor is the one that prescribes the medicine and it's up to the doctor or the pharmacist to offer generic medicine to a patient. The patient has no idea if a prescription is generic or not. When my doctor prescribes a prescription for me the pharmacy makes sure that I am getting generic pills, when possible. The only medicine I take that is not generic is Actos (needed for diabetes) which so far has no generic substitute and is a very expensive pill so I order it online. Save a lot of money that way.
" So what is the fuss about actually? I don't buy medicine on a daily basis." Mr Debono, a lot of people have to buy or take these medicines on a daily basis, including me.
S. Fenech
Jun 22nd 2010, 21:18
Sometimes, doctors prescribe medicines which are not available on the pink or yellow card schemes.
So even if one suffers from chronic diseases, it might be possible for someone with any kind of financial background to find it somehow difficult to pay for such medicines. Unfortunately not everyone can say "I don't buy medicine on a daily basis" in the same way that you can do to date (who knows some day you may also find yourself in a similar situation and your reasoning might be different then) and I find it very unfair for someone who is not affected by any particular condition which requires the use of expensive medicines to do such comments.