129 pharmacies included in POYC scheme
About 63,000 people are benefiting from the pharmacy of your choice scheme that allows them to pick up free medicines they are entitled to from their local pharmacy, Health Minister Joseph Cassar said.
The scheme has now been extended to a total of 129 pharmacies and the plan is to include the bulk of Malta’s 208 pharmacies by the end of next year, he said during a visit to a Paola pharmacy that recently joined the scheme.
Dr Cassar said government offered 1,329 different medicines through the scheme. He admitted that this was a challenge to pharmacies that had to cope with an added influx of clients and had to create a new set-up for the free medicines.
The new localities recently included in the scheme, he said, were Fgura, Paola, Vittoriosa, Cospicua, Senglea and Kalkara.
Dr Cassar added that government was committed to ensuring that free medicines were always in stock. Government was also in the process of amending the law that lists the medical conditions for which patients are entitled to free medicines.
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A. Sultana
Nov 25th 2011, 10:08
POYC Scheme with an ongoing 'Out of stock' problem. Wouldn't it be more convenient to try to work on having medicine available before adding more POYC pharmacies?
Is anyone aware of the amount of clients being lost by the pharmacies due to the lack of medicine? Not mentioning all the valuable time lost to explain each client the reason why the medicine they so much need is constantly 'Out of Stock'.
It is the pharmacists who at the end of the day have to put up with the accusations given by the clients for such shortcomings from the government.
Anthony Borg
Nov 25th 2011, 12:00
Was the pharmacies choice!! At least their licenses are safe and protected!! The only kind of retail momopoly on the island!! Or are you refering to the poor employed pharmacists who got nothing out of the scheme except more work and grumbling patients?
Jeff Mead
Nov 24th 2011, 12:42
I keep hearing the word FREE but are these medicines really free, i mean surely the people getting these so called free medication must have paid for it during their working life directly or indirectly as we do back home or through an insurance.There is no such thing as FREE give aways right or am i dreaming
, lets face it the Maltese just do not do anything for free nor does your government, someone is paying for them, i don't think they are free at all, the working man is paying for such medication from their taxes and wage packets.
John Dee
Nov 24th 2011, 13:18
I paid for mine during the 47 years I worked and contributed to my country's health service. Any cost to Malta is off-charged back to them.
The work-shy lazy sods who won't try to find work are the ones you are looking after ! Thanks for that.
Angus Black
Nov 24th 2011, 13:49
Mr. Mead, your question regarding 'free' medicines is rather naive and the Maltese know very well that their National Insurance contributions go (at least part-way) towards paying for the medicines. Compare with other countries whose citizens pay some form of NI, yet medicines are not 'free' at all and have to pay at the pharmacists' counters, each time.
If this appears to be a 'dream' for you, you're darned right! When you consider that health and education are free in Malta (pre and post EU membership), you are describing a unique situation envied by many larger countries. I may also add that education at all levels, is not only free, but those students proceeding to tertiary education are paid a stipend! Not only a student does not have to pay thousands of euro to complete his degree/diploma, but is paid a monthly allowance to stay and finish his/her course.
Isn't that great? A better description and perhaps substitution for the word 'free' should be 'taxpayer paid medicines and education' and no one objects to that. It is probably the fairest system since not only the taxes of users pay for the 'free' services but also those who do not require medicines and/or are well beyond school-age years.
That is what a close-knit society is all about.
Anthony Roberts
Nov 24th 2011, 14:22
I worked all my life and paid my national insurance just like you in the UK. I receive free medication from the Government and am grateful for this fact. I do not look at the British and ask the same questions as you appear to be doing because simply it is not my business as I do not live there and am not a British subject. You on the other hand, feel it is your right to question what happens in this country, all I can say is that we the sick and elderly are well looked after by our government and do not need any comments from outsiders to criticise what does not concern them.
Mr Joseph Apap
Nov 24th 2011, 15:26
Dear Mr. Mead
Up to 1998 I used to pay Lm850 =Euros 1979.97 per year
On a visit to my Consultant he informed me that I can get them free
He filled in the required form and since then I have been getting them free
and I am a satisfied person who gets these medicenes from the Pharmacy of your choice
I still have to buy other medicenes which are not covered by the Yellow card
I used to pay income tax then and am still paying income tax now
But I am still saving themost of the amount of medicenes that I have to use regularly
Saviour Cachia
Nov 24th 2011, 12:35
I am a resident of Marsascala. We have at least three pharmacies, but as the scheme has not been extended yet to our locality, we have to gather our free medicine from Paola Polyclinic. Cannot in the meantime arrangements be done so we can gather our medicine from a Pharmacy in Paola. Certainly better than the Polyclinic because the times of opening of the Pharmacy is more advantageous. Just a suggestion, all that is needed is that we be issued a special card given us permission to pick out our medicine from a pharmacy of our chose. So far it does not seem so near for us to pick out our medicine from a pharmacy of our chose in Marsascala. Will appreciate some official answer. Thanks. Do not tell me we have the Berga...omg me keep away from it.
Nathan Young
Nov 24th 2011, 23:57
I use the Berga at Marsascala and have no complaints about it. The Nurse and Doctor are very helpful and polite. I do not understand why you are so against it.
Anthony Borg
Nov 25th 2011, 11:54
I do not think the times of POYC pharmacy is more advantageous.cause they tell you to come only when they tell you. Some morning only, some evenings only, some give you a specific date, and most also tell you to leave it there and pick it up a week or so later. At the poly clinic the time schedule has been increased. They are now also opening extended hours Mon to Thurs from 2.30pm to 5.15pm. These hours are very advantageous cause there is no queunig time.