Medicines still out of stock

Alfred Cauchi (The Sunday Times, August 14) described how certain medicines are regularly out of stock. My wife had a similar experience.

She has been going to the pharm-acy of her choice since June 19 for a supply of Simvastatin but to date she has received none. The pharm-acy keeps telling her that the Health Department did not provide any.

On August 1, I wrote to the Ministry of Health to ask for an explanation. The next day I received a reply from chemist Stefan Psaila, saying that the supplier had failed to give the department concerned the required amounts of this medicine. But he added that the department had given a small amount to pharmacy in question, which, of course, was not enough for all the clients. As I said, my wife is still without her medicine.

Somebody must be accountable. Why is there such a regular shortage? Is the supplier failing to honour his part of the contract?

Shouldn’t the department look for an alternative supplier who is able to meet the demand?