Medicine out of stock

Health Minister Joseph Cassar has given a rundown of the urgent medicine out of stock procurement list.

He told Jean Pierre Farrugia (PN) in Parliament that Menadiol 10mg tablets were out of stock because of manufacturing problems and these might be available by next February.

A part consignment of Warfarin 1mg tablets was received last month. The supplier had informed the government that there was an acute shortage in the UK.

The tender for calcium folinate 15mg tablets (antidote) was not honoured by the contractor and another order has been placed. The department was chasing delivery.

The tenders for hydrocortisone 10mg tablets and dapsone 50mg tablets met with adjudication problems while the delay for delivery of amphotericin 10mg tablets was due to manufacturing problems. A new call for quotations has been issued.

The export pack of the consignment of misoprostol 200mcg tablets was not deemed acceptable and the government has started procedures to purchase on account of the supplier.

Part of the consignment of omerprazole 20mg capsules was delivered this week and issued to the pharmacy of your choice scheme. The balance would be delivered in a fortnight’s time.

Answering another question by the same MP, Dr Cassar said that there were pharmacies of your choice in 39 localities in Malta and 10 in Gozo. Two pharmacies opted not to join the scheme while two others stopped offering the service a short while after they started.

Dr Cassar also laid on the Table of the House information which showed that 13,080 outpatient appointments had already been given for 2011.