Updated: Schedule V applications taking too long to be processed - PL spokesman

Thousands of Maltese wanting to renew or apply for a Schedule V (Yellow) card, which entitles them to free medicine for chronic diseases, were being made to wait for hours being long queues outside the Schedule V office at St Luke's Hospital, PL health spokesman Marie Louise Coleiro Prece said.

She said some were even being made to wait in vain as when their turn came it was discovered they had some missing detail in their application. Some applicants had already been to the office three times.

Mrs Coleiro Preca said that once these applications were submitted, applicants were having to wait weeks until they received their card. It seemed that this situation, which was causing hardship to many and was denying people from their right to getting their medicine, was due to a lack of resources at the Schedule V office, she said.

In a reply, the Health Ministry said the Opposition's statement provoed how many people had been affected by a reform which doubled the number of medicines in the system from 38 to 79.

The reform led to the scheme having around 124,215 beneficiaries. Because of this increase and the necessary changes in forms, people sometimes had to wait.

The government noted that 69 million euros a year were being invested in free medicines for the Maltese and Gozitan people.