Credit vouchers suggested for out-of-stock medicines

Labour MP Anġlu Farrugia on Wednesday suggested that with 80,000 people under or near the poverty line, the government should consider issuing credit vouchers to cover the cost of privately-bought pills that were out of stock in government stores.

The suggestion was made during a mini-debate between opposition members and Minister George Pullicino, standing in for Health Minister Joseph Cassar, during question time in Parliament.

When Mr Pullicino said the government was ready to consider any feasible solution, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca (PL) asked when the government would start to consider, because the problem of out-of-stock medicines had been around for years.

The question and answer session had started when Mr Pullicino read Minister Cassar’s reply to a number of PQs by Anthony Agius Decelis (PL).

Dr Cassar had replied that almost invariably the reason for medicines falling out of stock was the time lapse between approval of the purchase and the time of delivery.

During the first six months of this year there were 120 types of medicines out of stock at Mater Dei Hospital, the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme and the Department of Primary Care.

When Opposition Whip Joe Mizzi pointed out that the problem was not just the Health Minister’s but the whole Cabinet’s, Mr Pullicino said it was not just the government that was involved but also other stakeholders. Mr Mizzi immediately asked if the minister was acknowledging that the present system was inefficient.

Mr Pullicino said there was no magic solution except for a technical review of the current process. When he comes back Minister Cassar would be able to say if the review had started and how far it had gone.