PM: Patients will not pay for 'out of stock' medicines they have to get from pharmacies
Patients will not pay anything when they have to get medicines from private pharmacies because they out of stock in government dispensaries, the prime minister said this afternoon.
He explained that the medicines would be paid for by the government at an established price, but the transaction would be made with the pharmacies, not the individual patients.
The prime minister was speaking during a visit to the new cancer hospital near Mater Dei.
He appeared to be reacting to Labour claims that the way how the PN had proposed to refund patients when medicines were out of stock would still leave them out of pocket because they would have to pay the difference between the established price and the commercial price.
Dr Gonzi denied that the PN was making a u-turn, insisting that its proposal was being better explained. The bottom line, he said, was that patients would not pay anything, and the pharmacists would invoice the government.
On the building of the Oncology Centre, Dr Gonzi said the works were on time and below budget – with the savings being used for the purchase of more hospital equipment.
The new hospital consists of three blocks of five storeys each. Construction is being completed and fitting out has started.
The facility will start being used in a year’s time. At its core will be three linear accelerators for the diagnosis of cancer. Two will be new and the third will be transferred from Boffa Hospital, ensuring a seamless transfer of operations between the old hospital and the new.
The oncology hospital is being built at a cost of €54 million, of which 85% are EU funds.
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Aristide Galea
Feb 10th, 19:10
Jekk , u nerġa ngħid jekk , jibqgħu jinsistu li il-poplu ma kienx fehem din il-mizura , hu sinjal ċar li giet spjegata miċ-ċwieċ . Issa il-poplu zgur li mhux ċuċ biex jibla dan , għax kullhadd sema' dak li ntqal fuq it-TV min Dr Gonzi u min Dr Busuttil , kif ukoll min esponenti oħra tal-partit Nazzjonalista .
carmel cassar
Feb 10th, 13:13
As if the pharmacies are going to stock medicines, just in case, and what happens to the stock that falls out of date, would they throw it away or the government makes good? there are so many questions to be answered. It could lead to worse situation then the oil dealings that are uncovered now.
Jonathan Scerri
Feb 10th, 08:56
A second edition with the changes in the Futur fis-Sod manifesto will be published on March 10. For pre-bookings please call the Stamperija.
C Muscat
Feb 10th, 08:22
Ha nghidilkom jien kemm ghandu ragun Gonzi.
Ma tkellem xejn ma spizjara.
jibda jhallas lil spizjara pero dawk li ttik li spizjara minn taghhom trid thallas id-differenza lilhom malli tixtri u huma jigbru xi darba l-ammont tal-gvern.
Ibqa ghid nofs il-verita Gonzi halli min hu miskin jivvotalek ghax ma jifhemx bejn il-linji.
L-unika speranza ghal Malta jekk JM ikun PM.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 10th, 08:19
Tiftakru meta il-VAT minn 15% ghollewa ghall 18% suppost ghalll medicini b'xejn. Biss tafu kemm baqu b'xejn ghax hafna minnhom jispiccaw out of stock. Mghandhomx irhila bl-IT kollu taghhom izommu rendikont ta'x'ghandhom u x'mghandhomx.Veru tad-dahk u jridu li jemmnuhom.
Noel Mifsud
Feb 10th, 07:57
Sur PM please idecidi, ghax il poplu wasal biex jidecidi4 weeks ohra
R Axisa
Feb 10th, 07:11
kollox maghmul ta' kafkaf - xejn ippjanat - u kif se jirrangaw nal-ispizjara? Se jaghtuhom skont kemm jigi jiswa lill-gvern?? Kif se tinhadem?? X'sistema se tintuza?? "Dr Gonzi denied that the PN was making a u-turn, insisting that its proposal was being better explained." - Kemm hasibna cwiec? It's writen black on white on the PN's Manifest.
Victor Pulis
Feb 10th, 07:06
Will the pharmacies lose money with this set up? If so will they accept? I still can't understand how this scheme will work.
Joseph Buhagiar
Feb 10th, 06:22
OK! I still remember all you promised on TV a few days before elections.
Now first you says we'll get a voucher,
Next. you will pay pharmacies the price the govt. would pay (and we pay the variance)
And now you say we just go to the pharmacy and we get them absolutely free.
And what if this will have the same fate of the Whistle Blower and Party Financing Act?
How can we believe you.
Charles Caruana Carabez
Feb 10th, 06:07
Suppose you need the medicine really urgently, and it's out of stock both from the Govt source as well as from local pharmacies, but it is available on the internet: would govt defray the patient, and if so, how?
charles tabone
Feb 10th, 03:25
PN hierarchy should consult dictionaries for the meaning of coherence and consistency in this regard. First we were to pay the price the government originally pays as stressed by PM, now we are not paying anything. This is the kind of policy of insecurity the PN is publicising making itself the laughing stock of the country. PN is now in a quandary
Karl Consiglio
Feb 10th, 00:41
Sounds good to me
Andrew Cumbo
Feb 9th, 22:17
Dawn jafu x'qegħdin jagħmlu jew? Mela il- Prim dalgħodu biddel il- versjoni u qed jgħidilna li ħa jkollna il- medicini b'xejn. U lejla stess fuq Dissett (programm rekordjat dalgħodu) Simon jerga jgħid li ħa jkollna nħallsu id-differenza ghall kemm jigu jiswew lill Gvern. Imbgħad jiġu jakkuzaw lill PL li ħa jdaħalna ġo ħajt. Meta huma qegħdin ġo fiħ u lanqas jafu.
Pierre Fenech
Feb 9th, 22:12
Dr Simon Busuttil just said the opposite of what the prime minister said this morning on medicines out of stock. Never saw the PN in such a confusing mode. Who of the two is lying?
Anthony Paris
Feb 9th, 21:32
This is the PN's idea of 'on time and budget'...keep changing the targets until the very end by which time you can't go wrong. Prosit all you PN project managers. No wonder Mater Dei took so long and cost so much. By the way in 1959 Nasa said they will go to the moon in 10 years. And sure enough they were on the moon by 1969.
S. Caruana
Feb 9th, 21:00
Another UUUUUUU-TURN by Dr.Panic!!
*Joseph Brincat
Feb 9th, 20:53
PM: Patients will not pay for 'out of stock' medicines
Gonzi pn ander pressure >>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_IhiEUp2bQ
Ethelbert Schembri
Feb 9th, 20:48
"On the building of the Oncology Centre, Dr Gonzi said the works were on time and below budget – with the savings being used for the purchase of more hospital equipment."
1- We would like to see the accounts to check if the costings are really bellow budget!!
2- This hospital was part of the deal made with Skanska as part of the Mater Dei and Gonzi promised that Boffa had to close in 2007
Manwel Sinagra
Feb 10th, 05:39
Ethelbert, Regarding 2, there is an official DOI statement that show that. To be fair as regards to 1, this is an EU funded project and these need to be carried out within budget and on time otherwise the money does not come.
Terry Brown
Feb 10th, 08:33
If they really do have saving perhaps they should use them to make sure the medicines are in stock. There will be stock management software packages out there that anaylise stock levels/usage and automatically order when required. I suspect the route of the problem is Government/Hospital bureaucracy and budgets, the suggestion of fixing this with more bureaucracy is absurd, costs will go up.
Julian Grech
Feb 9th, 20:25
U-TURN?
msieken il-farmacisti mela - kieku jispiccaw jittalbu u jigru wara flushom!
George Cassar
Feb 9th, 20:24
Hmm, this needs careful thought. First he tells us that we'll get a voucher, then he tells us we pay pharmacies the price the govt. buys his medicines, and now he tells us we don't have to pay anything because he'll pay an "established" price! How come? Has he already reached an agreement with suppliers? Don't pharmacies buy them at market price? Is this a "tweak", an explanation or a U-TURN?
George Cassar
Feb 9th, 20:23
Hmm, this needs careful thought. First he tells us that we'll get a voucher, then he tells us we pay pharmacies the price the govt. buys his medicines, and now he tells us we don't have to pay anything because he'll pay an "established" price! How come? Has he already reached an agreement with suppliers? Don't pharmacies buy them at market price? Is this a "tweak", an explanation or a U-TURN?
Mr Albert Dimech
Feb 9th, 19:59
Ħawwadni ħa nifhmek, hekk kien qallu lil Anġlu Farrugia, Simon. U issa fuq di x'se jgħid?
Terry Brown
Feb 9th, 19:42
I take a Government controlled medicine, unavailable at Pharmacies. The Hospital ran out, they left me 3/4 weeks without, the condition flared up I missed 5 weeks from work. This ruined 6 months of treatment, and undermined all the specialist had been trying. The heart of the problem is not reimburstment its patients health, the pharmacy should be better managed, THEY SHOULD NOT RUN OUT OF STOCK.
Peter Simpson
Feb 9th, 19:30
GonziPN had 5 years to mend the out of stock medicine system-a mess of his own making. 4 weeks before the elections panic stations are setting in, and all this because it is incapable of running a speedy, efficient, distribution system! Imagine GonziPN running Amazon !
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 9th, 19:29
In the long run such procurement would be the same as if government buys 'en block' by direct orders when the stock falls. The true answer is that medicines should not run out of stock so often. That needs a dynamic and well managed Health Department.
Andrew Cumbo
Feb 9th, 19:26
Għalxejn tiprova dawwar il- kliem Prim Ministru sew int kif ukoll Simon Busuttil għidtu li jekk il- medicini jkunu out of stock ħa jkollna nħallsu differenza għall dak li tiġi tiswa lill Gvern għall kif tinbiegħ go li spiżerija. Simon Busuttil żied jgħid li hekk huwa fair enough. Jekk jerġa jkollna PN fil- gvern mhux Pharmacy of your choice, imma you will have no choice but pay for it
priscilla ciangura
Feb 9th, 19:12
When will this promise be implemented and are agreements already in place with pharmacists? Wouldn't the prices being paid by pharmacists differ from the price established by government? How sweet of PN to start worrying about the issue of out of stocks medicines during an electoral campaign when nothing was done in the last 5 years!
Joe Borg (Senior)
Feb 9th, 19:10
U-U-Turn ohra min GonziSimonPN ghax jafu li kienu qed ihawdu u sejrin min taht bil-proposta originali!!!
Anthony Mizzi
Feb 9th, 20:39
Kollhu tort ta' Joseph Muscat !
Icaqlaq il-Gonzi Joseph Muscat .... u mill Opozizzjoni!
Ma ghandhu xejn x'jitlef issa hlief elezzjoni u jwieghed u jwieghed u jwieghed..... imbghad naraw!
miriam mestre
Feb 9th, 19:04
Oncology centre works are far from on time....Boffa was supposed to close in 2007!! You're even contradicting yourselves on what is written on your manifesto....how can these people be trusted?
Noel Mifsud
Feb 10th, 08:06
Miriam all cause of JM. Gonzi do everything good, but what the hack a man named JM ruined everything lol
rodney bone
Feb 9th, 18:57
PN are already changing their electoral programme. Makes you doubt on its overall possible implimentation.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 9th, 18:54
Iva d-deciedi ghal darba Dr.Gonzi. Tghidtx kemm ilkom thawduna, daqqa tghidu haga imbaghad l-ghada tghidu ohra. J'alla zomm kelmtek Dr.Gonzi u ma'tghamlilniex bhall ahhar darba tghajtna weghda bil-miktub u xorta ksirta.
Manuel Scicluna
Feb 9th, 18:53
xejn gdid, bi dritt il poplu li qieghed ihallas it taxxi u ghax m'ghandux ikollu il medicini b'xejn il hin kollu. Ma nahsibx li kien hemm ghalfejn ihalli sa l ahhar xhar biex jiehu din il mizura. Lil gonzi naghjdlu 'Thanks but no Thanks'
M. Grech
Feb 9th, 18:51
Seems this medicines issue is really worriying PN. Did Dr Gonzi consult pharmacy owners before this new radicaly different statement?
Mr Alistaire Gill
Feb 9th, 18:44
Dal-ghodu fuq ir-radju Simon kien qed jghid l-oppost ta li qed jghid issa il-PM dwar il-medicina out of stock.
Jista PBO jilluminana liema partijiet mil-program tal-PN nistghu nemmnu u liema le?
Grazzi.
Andrew Cumbo
Feb 9th, 18:30
Għalxejn tiprova dawwar il- kliem Prim Ministru sew int kif ukoll Simon Busuttil għidtlu li jekk il- medicini jkun out of stock ha jkollna nħallsu differenza għall dak li tiġi tqum tiswa lill Gvern għall kif tinbiegħ go li spiżerija. Simon Busuttil żied jgħid li hekk huwa fair enough. Jekk jerġa jitla PN mhux Pharmacy of your choice, imma you will have no choice but pay for it.
Giocchino Attard
Feb 9th, 18:30
By next week gonzi will say that he would have the medicine delivered to your home.
Em. Catania
Feb 9th, 18:28
Din hija semplici U-Turn min gonzi, dan il clip ( gonzi on 025 sec )juri ezatt x'kienet l-intenzjoni tal gvern
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neTBFqCiSyc
Ahjar tard milli QATT, imma trid tammetti sur gonzi li rega bdielek, l-onesta hekk titlob
Wara kollox jekk jerga jitla gonzi ma nehduwiex bi kbira li nergu, milli edna ma hemm xejn , bhall hafna weghdi fit 2008
M Saliba
Feb 9th, 18:28
This is a tablets campaign.
In the health sector the tablets proposal was half-baked.
In the educational sector introducing the tablets across the board is an organised disorganization. Hope that there will be another U-turn tablets proposal sensible.
R. Aquilina
Feb 9th, 18:26
Has an agreement with the pharmacists been reached already ? I doubt it . Just another U turn from our PM. LIke he has said on numerous occasions " Ignore what I say ....but of what I do ". So , I will transfer this new proposal to my TRASH file.
JG. Briffa
Feb 9th, 18:24
Gonzi ikonsulta ma l ispizjara?L-Ispizjara se jacettaw li il-gvern jahdem bi flushom?Ghax kif dawwara Gonzi issa se jisselef il medicina min ghand l ispizjar u meta tigi in stock jerga itiha lil ispizjar lura.Jien nahseb li Gonzi flok jaghmel din il paprata kellu jiranga ix xiri tal medicini ghax jekk ix xiri issir bil ghaqal ma ghandux bzonn l ispizjar
Maria Borg
Feb 9th, 18:20
I read the promise in question and it says that "....the government will compensate YOU for having bought it privately on the basis of established prices". Was it Simon that wrote the manifesto and now Gonzi and Tonio are trying to tweak what is public and in writing !!? Another gaffe....
M Grima
Feb 9th, 18:15
Dr. Gonzi has been making one gaffe after another. But, this qualifies as the best one. Just a few days ago he clearly stated that government will only pay the price he pays to the supplier for a medicine which is out stock. Even the PN's manifesto is identical to what the PM originally stated.
No wonder the PN's manifesto is a half baked affair. And he even wants our vote!!!!
James Grech
Feb 9th, 18:10
Checked PN manifesto for plans to tackle the energy problems afflicting Enemalta. I didnt find costings for interconnector nor those for the pipeline. In the coming EU budget a max of €63M can be used for the pipeline, possibly leaving €31M for the interconnector. But how does the PN plan to cover the other costings? More taxes, higher fuel or electricity maybe? A clear answer is due!!
m. borg (slm)
Feb 9th, 17:47
It is not a U-turn it is a hollow promise that will not materialise after 9th March if re-elected and will stick to his first version of reimbursing government cost and not the whole price.
By the way what happened to gonzi's promise he made way back in August 2012 when he swore that if gonzipn is re-elected he would resign from leader and subsequently from PM?
Mark Pace
Feb 9th, 17:44
Building an oncology hospital marks another important milestone in healthcare in Malta....thanks again to a PN gov!
Joe Busuttil
Feb 9th, 20:30
A bit late in the day and anyway it was supposed to be built by Skanska ,if I'm not mistaken ,and not out of our taxes.
Noel Borg
Feb 9th, 17:44
PN is surely in deep crisis, is this backtracking? what a gaffe! imma kemm ħasibhom ħmir lin- nies dan Dr Gonzi ....
Mario Piscopo
Feb 9th, 17:44
Jaqghu kullhadd nesa li dan l-isptar kellu jibda jiffunzjona fl-2007 meta kellu jinghalaq l-Isptar Boffa? Safejn niftakar dan kien parti mil-progett ta Skanska! Imbaghad jigi l-Prim Ministru jghidilna "the works were on time and below budget "
Peppi Borg
Feb 9th, 17:43
Dr.Gonzi is completely wrong when saying that the Onchology Hospital building process is on time. As far as I can remember, it was to be built way back when the same Gonzi reached an agreement with Skanska to build such a hospital but was unexplicably shelved up. In fact Boffa Hospital was to close by 2007.
Peppi Borg
Feb 9th, 17:40
"...the government will compensate YOU for having bought it privately on the basis of established prices". Why is GonziPN rewinding? Does this mean that a new government under Gonzipn would be in debt not only with medicine importers but also with pharmacists? Has Gonzipn reached concensus with the Pharmacists? As far as I know they buy medicine at market price, not at an established price!
EDWARD CUSCHIERI
Feb 9th, 17:40
Ejja ghal punt tal-argument naccettaw li l-pn hadu zball u issa rrangawh. Biss nixtieq nistaqsi jekk din il-proposta sar xi tip ta ftehim mal-ispizjara, meta se tibda titwettaq u fuq kollox kemm se tigi tiswa? Ghax ma ninsewx li l-ispizjar jixtri l-medicina mhux skond il-prezz tal-gvern izda skond il-prezz tal-agent.
susan matrenza
Feb 9th, 17:36
Today like many I recieved the PN manifesto by post. First thing I checked was this proposal. It is clear that the PN have made a big gaffe and now they trying to tweak what is already public.
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 18:02
C. Bartoli: D you call the 50 cents on the prescriotion in order to try and stop people going t collect medicines which they no longer need, a tax ?? Do you know that the amount of money collected from this so-called was LM50,000 ?
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 17:28
In 1996 MLP promised that medicines will remain free, only to introduce 2 taxes on medicines after a few months - FACT
In 2008 PL said that PN will introduce a charge on health care - another MLP LIE!
Mr Stephen Borg
Feb 9th, 17:39
That was in 1996 thus in the past, now we are loking at the future and that is what Gonzi is promising for the future.
R Axisa
Feb 9th, 17:51
Il-bierah smajt lil Tonio Fenech jghid li kienu ddecidew li jirrfondu l-ammont li jkunu xtara bih il-gvern biex ma joqoghdux imorru jigbru l-medicini anke jekk m'ghandhomx bzonnhom. Din kienet ir-raguni l-ghala kien sar hlas to 50c ghal kull ricetta (li fiha jista jkollha sa 3 tipi ta' medicini). Wara 1998, niftakar li fil-PN kien hemm min qal li kien hemm bzonn isir xi haga ghal din il-problema
R. Saliba
Feb 9th, 17:55
the cheek of the MLP die hards my friend. Crying and shouting about some trivial matter.
Michael Gatt
Feb 9th, 17:27
Jekk ma jgennix Gonzi bli jejed ma nafx min irid igennini ghax ghadikun jghamel lil kuhadd bhala bahnan
Tony Zammit
Feb 9th, 17:22
Don't trust him again
Alfred Attard
Feb 9th, 18:08
Whom should we trust than, who his ex deputy leader accused him of not being honest, or who proposed that we should not join the EU and opposed the EURO currency. Please tell me and other hundreds of voters who have not yet decided yet\? Please tell Tony. Thanks in anticipation for your valuable advice.
S. Cuschieri
Feb 9th, 19:21
why not? who shall we trust? Joseph Muscat? who wanted us to follow Cyprus? who based the first weeks of the campaign on the biggest powerstation fiasco ever... and then stopped mentioning it altogether?
I will trust dr. gonzi because i have witnessed the FREE healthcare promises & i'm sure that whoever needs them truly appreciates them!
Eve Axiaq
Feb 9th, 17:16
L-aqwa li nidhru sbieh ghal voti u xejn aktar. Ma nahsibx li l-ispizeriji se jaccettaw dan it-tip ta ftehim ghax alla jaf meta jithallsu mil-gvern. Gonzi messhu jghid kemm ghandu jghati miljuni ta ewros li suppliers tal-medicini u kemm halla hlasijiet pendenti ghal legislatura li gejja. Dan kollu biex l-ahhar budget id-deficit ma jidhirx wisq qawwi biex Tonio joqghod jiftahar li qed nirkupraw.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 9th, 18:56
Good comment.
Charles Caruana Carabez
Feb 9th, 17:16
This is quite definitely a change of tack (I distinctly remember hearing PN exponents saying clients will be refunded the difference 'at established prices'). No problem, change if you will. But if you change now, what's to guarantee you won't change again later?
M Cutajar
Feb 9th, 17:15
Nru 31 ii. Fejn jirriżulta li mediċina partikolari li int intitolat għaliha tkun out of stock, il-Gvern se jagħti lura kumpens lil min ikun xtraha privatament għaliex ikollu bżonnha urġenti, skont prezzijiet stabbiliti.
Din hi kwotazzjoni mill-Programm Elettorali tal-PN. U jigu jghidu li mhix U-Turn din!! Anzi U-Turn klassika ta' veru!
m. borg (slm)
Feb 9th, 17:12
Does PM gonzi think the people are fools? What an Arrogant silly person, three times he said government reimburse what it cost the government and the patient has to fork out the rest.
Does he believe peole are that dumb?
God forbid he is re-elected what a cheeky custard he is.
James Abela
Feb 9th, 19:07
@ m borg.
It seems that some people are dumb.
Why can't the PN impove on their proposals without people like you complaining?
James Abela
Feb 9th, 19:07
@ m borg.
It seems that some people are dumb.
Why can't the PN impove on their proposals without people like you complaining?
James Grech
Feb 9th, 17:11
Dr.Gonzi is giving us yet another different version of this saga. First he said that ppl will need to fork out the difference, now he is saying that this is not the case. Does this mean that the PN's electoral program is still being changed, as we speak? Who knows what else will change tomorrow than? Confusion galore!!!
Mr Joe Cardona
Feb 9th, 17:27
Hekk hu James Grech, Hawwadni ha nifmek il-programm elettorali tal-PN. Fih issib mod u Gonzi u shabu jghidu mod iehor. Lanqas tfal tal-Kindergarten ma jaghmlu bhalhom.
Xejn wasal iz-zmien biex iwarrbu u jaghmlu post ghal haddiehor ghax nixfu mill-idejat. Tajbin biss biex jikkuppjaw.
S. Cuschieri
Feb 9th, 19:25
@ Joe Cardona
Have you seen the PL's manifesto? it's full of proposals already achieved, in the process of being achieved or which the PN has already proposed... so you go on and tell me who is copying who! Nahseb il PL mhux nixfu mill-ideat imma qatt ma kellhom wahda! Xi wahda ta power station gdida kellhom ... li issa donnhom nesewha!
john muscat
Feb 9th, 17:10
How is it that goivt. is out of stock of pills and the pharmacies are not?? Din xi bazwira jew buzulotta ohra li issa drajnihom?
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 17:23
the reason is simply because the agents of medicine not only supplies the government but also all pharmacies in Malta
Mr Alistaire Gill
Feb 9th, 18:20
@ C Bartoli
So if medicine agents supply both government and pharmacies, how is it that only the government is constantly out of stock of a good number of medicines?
michael scicluna
Feb 9th, 17:09
Jekk joghogobkom araw din il link u tindunaw kemm il pn biddel din id decizjoni ghal konvenjenza politika!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10152537378580161&set=a.10150189810085161.420627.557230160&type=1&theater
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 17:24
even MLP changed their proposal from tablet to all 8 years old students and now it will also include teachers and LSA's
Dennis Zammit
Feb 9th, 18:20
@ C Bartoli
Who said tablets for all and than said from year 3?
michael scicluna
Feb 9th, 19:10
int timmagina li it tfal ser ikollom u it teachers u LSA le?!!?!? Mhux ovja li jkolom ukoll!!
Sue De Nym
Feb 9th, 17:06
Why only now? People have been complaining of having to buy out-of-stock medicines for a long time.
Malcolm Farrugia
Feb 9th, 17:05
"On the building of the Oncology Centre, Dr Gonzi said the works were on time and below budget", Sure pull the other one, is Lawrence Gonzi seriously mistaking us for fools? The oncology centre has been already paid for in the contract his government signed with Skanska, the Maltese taxpayer has to pay again for his political incompetence!
Mr Alistaire Gill
Feb 9th, 18:23
Malcolm you are 100% correct.
Please understand that our PM may have forgotten that the 'dementia' pills are already out of stock!
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 9th, 16:58
La la la la la la la viva viva l'karnival.
Bill Payer
Feb 9th, 16:46
Dr Gonzi said the works were on time and below budget...
The facility will start being used in a year’s time
The oncology hospital is being built at a cost of €54 million
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090727/local/cancer-centre-will-cost-euro-40m.266983
(Cancer centre will cost €40m)
(project was to be completed by 2012)
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 9th, 16:45
If the transactions will be made directly with pharmacists, who will ensure that the invoices are correct and truthful and not open to abuse?
Anthony Paris
Feb 9th, 16:44
At the beginning of this 'out-of-stock' argument several PN representatives spoke of "refunds" to the customer. Now they are saying the customer will not pay anything, but the pharmacist will handle it. So there is no question that the PN has made a U-turn on this one. Clearly they tried to sneak in a new stealth tax but failed. So the maltese public are no longer cwiec, it seems.
R Axisa
Feb 9th, 16:44
who is copying who???
Anthony Grech
Feb 9th, 16:41
Sorry all. This is not a U Turn by the Hon Prime Minister. This is the truth of what will happen to ALL the GonziPN promises scribbled on the Manifesto. GonziPN, if elected will say that the Maltese people are stupid enough not to understand a simple statment delivered by this great statesman.
Jonathan Camilleri
Feb 9th, 16:40
Almenu hareg ta' ragel fl-ahhar, taf kemm ili ngerger ghax ma nsibx medicini l-isptar. Meta kont bla xoghol kont inhoss il-piz taghhom iktar ovjament.
Richard Farrugia
Feb 9th, 16:38
The question on all these proposals in the political arena is: Will the electorate vote for indirect taxation anymore? Being pills or energy services or fuel - these are full of taxation. The common good derivative, money, is obscure and its expenditure far more. In the name of good governance insist on transparency while erase the practice of confidentiality in the res publica
M. Bezzina
Feb 9th, 16:37
what a mess...u turns galore first they pay the difference ...now they do not pay!!!A real moment that shows the gonzi attachment to power!!
Charlie Tabone
Feb 9th, 16:37
prosit PN tal u turn......basta u turn posittiva ghal poplu malti u ghawdxi kollu....
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 18:13
Charlie Tabone: Tidher li lest thalli l-Gonzi jbellghalek kollox imbasta jisraq xi voti tal-imzazen ! Ma tindunax li bhal ma dar dawra tond fi 3 ijiem, kemm kiekun jista jdur f 'hames snin !
Francis Sammut
Feb 9th, 16:35
What's next, might I ask? Heaven on earth? Both parties are being very generous with our money, may I add. And where is all this money coming from. I mean we have free health and free education plus stipends so our pampered students may have extra money to spend at their leisure.The parties need to come clean and say that we cannot go on like this with these luxuries of free health care & stipends
Joe Tabone
Feb 9th, 16:34
LABOUR (PL) will tax Health care AGAIN!
Once bitten twice shy....................
S Farrugia
Feb 9th, 17:14
PL was the party who introduced FREE Health care FOR ALL. You should get your things right then write about them! and the PN voted against it!
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 18:17
Joe Tabone: Ghidilna x'inhi din it-taxxa. Jaqaw se tghidilna dik il- 50 cents li saret biex dawk li kienu qed jigbru xorta wahda l-medicini bla ma jkollhom bzonnhom, forsi ma jiqghux. Fil-fatt il-bierah Tonio Fenech qal li hemm il-problema ta' nies li jigbru l-,medicini bla ma jkollhom bzonnhom, ghax jibzghu li jekk ikunu out-of-stock ikollhom merfghuajn jekk fil-futur jerga jkollhom bzonnom !
DAVID Sant
Feb 9th, 16:32
U-tern or no u-tern the fact is that Pills out of stock will be given on free of charge thanks to our Prim Minister....Keep the good work up.
Joseph Portelli
Feb 9th, 16:19
imma kif dejjem irridu immqadru! Imhajmin u xejn aktar! Kont nghix l-Awstralja u ghamilt anke xi zmien l-Amerika u mkien ma sibt il-hajm li hawn Malta. Sptarijiet u medicini b'xejn...... al kulhadd!!! Studenti jithallsu ax ikomplu jistudjaw.... U l-Maltin igergru - jew ahjar parti tal-Maltin - ha nkun iktar car!
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 16:19
Just shows that GonziPN's electoral programm was written in a hurry without considering seriously what they were writing. Obviously, the aim was to try and recoup lost votes. Now they are finding out that they have made an ELECTORAL MESS instead of an electoral program !
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 16:50
just like the tablet mistake by Muscat, wara li induna mhux ha jtija li tfal ta 8 snin biss imma lit-teachers u lil LSA wkoll. Fuq kollox Eddy int wiehed li ha tgawdi min din il-misura!
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 16:58
MLP's manifesto is so well written that the person which according to him spent 3 and a half years writing it can not work out its costings and how its proposals can be achieved!
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 18:19
C. Bartoli: Mid-dehra qbilt mieghi li l-program tal-PN inkiteb bil-ghaggla. Dwar it-Tablets, nahseb li GonziPN kitbu l-weghda fi zmien siegha wara li semghu lil Dr. Muscat ihabbar il-proposta tal-PL !
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 18:22
C. Bartoli: Min jikteb il-program ma jfissirx li hu jkun l.espert f'kullm proposta. Dwar il-costings, dawn saru minn team ta' esperti ekonomici taht il-Prof. Edward Sciclujna.Karmenu Vella huwa perit mhux ekonomista bhal Prof. Scicluna ! Daqs kemm Simon Busuttil ghamel il-costings ta' GonziPN !
R Axisa
Feb 9th, 16:14
Nikwota mill-programm elettorali tal-PN 2013 - pg 8 clause 31 (ii) "Fejn jirrizulta li medicini partikolari li inti intitolat ghaliha tkun out of stock, il-gvern se jaghti lura kumpens lil min ikun xtraha privatament ghaliex ikollu bzonnha urgenti, skont prezzijiet stabbiliti". Kif nistghu nkomplu nemmnu l-programm elettorali! Smajna hafna bil-gimmicks, jekk mhix gimmick din, ma nafx jien!
Freddie Micallef
Feb 9th, 16:14
l anqas biss jafu x kitbu..min jghid mod u min jghid iehor.basta kienu jghidu lil labour fejnu il manifest.
Martin Saliba
Feb 9th, 16:03
The PM very clearly explained that patiens will ony be refunded the cost price to the gov. when buying out of stock medicnes from POYC . I have tried to find the video clip but couldn't .
V Caruana
Feb 9th, 16:02
Dr. Gonzi had second thoughts. Give away money a la galore. election time may you come every year.
Edmund Gerada
Feb 9th, 16:01
Point 2 In exceptional cases of very serious
illness, where the prescribed medicine
is not found on the Government list of
free-medicines, we will pay you for the
medicine that is normally prescribed to
contribute towards your expenses for the
medicine you require.
Ph. Cauchi
Feb 9th, 15:57
GonziPN,
One u-turn after the other. Baqalek u-turn ohra x'tghid Gonzi 'Bin-nazzjonalisti tisthi u bil-labour inkunu kburin'. Spiccajtu.
Tony Bishop
Feb 9th, 15:54
I just cannot see any pharmacy going along with this.It means they will be out of pocket.Then it be goodbye to the POC scheme.
Edgar Gambin
Feb 9th, 15:50
Seems Labour supporters are particularly uneasy today after Gonzi triumphed yesterday with the package from the EU for all Maltese. Joseph takes advantage of cancer patients to gain some votes while Gonzi builds a hospital for cancer patients. What a difference.
J Cauchi
Feb 9th, 15:48
Another U Turn Gonzi PN you never know where you
Are with this Gov. They say one thing and do another
Is this what we for our country NO Direction.
What else are you going to change in the Manifesto
No planning !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 15:46
All those who are saying it is a U TURN it is, however Joseph Muscat said that a tablet would be given to only all children in year 4 and now he made a U TURN and said that a tablet will also be given to teachers and LSAs
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Feb 9th, 15:43
The good thing about pre-election campaigns is they give the opportunity for the public to protest effectively on issues which have been irking them in an unjust way. If they gather sufficient support amongst the public who now freely voice their views and opinions through online media and social networks we see the politicians making a complete volte face. A new form of Democracy at its best
A Farrugia
Feb 9th, 15:42
Dr Gonzi int bhall Ministru Fenech tahseb l''Maltin kollha cwiec, trid vera tkun CUC biex temmen li din mhux grande U-TURN. Gaffe ohra mal- lista ta Dr Busutill, hemm wisq minnhom issa, kwazi, kwazi wahda kulljum. Try Harder !!!
censu busuttil
Feb 9th, 15:42
. Fil-programm elettorali li bagħatli Onor. Gonzi f'paġna 8 Taqsima 31 Paragrafu ii hemm imniżżel...."Fejn jirriżulta li mediċina partikolari li int intitolat għaliha tkun out of stock, il-Gvern se jagħati lura kumpens lil min ikun xtraha privatament għaliex ikollu bżonnha urgenti, skont prezzijiet stabbiliti."
Mela inti stess kont qieghed tgħid li il-persuna trid tixtri u tħallas
Abe Sammut
Feb 9th, 15:39
imnalla kull 5 snin l-elezzjoni ghax kieku kull ghoxrin sena konnha ndumu biex narawhom ghoxrin sena dawn l-affarijiet. Li jorhos id dawl inkluz u hafna affarijiet ohra
Ronald Cauchi
Feb 9th, 15:30
Can I send him the bill for the lipanthyl 145 that I have been buying for the last two months?
Paul Borg
Feb 9th, 15:29
Here is the evidence of how important the opposition is in it's critisism. It could be Labour or PN , without a vigilant opposition there is no honest governance. Thank God it's Election time. I do have to add that it was Ralph of Alternattiva that suggested to the government to deal directly with the pharmacies. I will vote PL, but today I am happy with all 3 of them.
mark johnson
Feb 9th, 15:24
Speaking of U-turns, I am still waiting for a reasonable explanation as to why Joseph Muscat changed his mind about voting 'No' to the EU.
He seemed to have very, very strong convictions against Malta joining the EU.
Why that U-turn?
--- From an undecided voter seeking answers.
PS Will either party release their manifesto in English? Thank you.
Peter Murray
Feb 9th, 15:22
It was also said at one stage that Mater Dei was" on time and below budget " -lest we forget .Is this a church that is being built?As miracles appears to be coinciding with elections
pat muscat
Feb 9th, 15:13
A party for all voters: promises galore for everyone! Last week you would only get paid for the difference between government's and Pharmacist costs: today the government will pay the pharmacist. At this rate, talking about costings, why does.n.t GonziPN simply get efficient and get rid of his lousy out of stock system? It would be cheaper!
Joseph Bugeja
Feb 9th, 15:06
So as I see it the pharmacy will be giving a client a medicine costing say €10 but the government will refund the same pharmacists say €7 leaving him €3 out of pocket.
Very plausible!
Suddenly my thesaurus is showing a new meaning for lies...it starts with a capital G.
Victor Pulis
Feb 9th, 15:05
Most of the misunderstandings arise because politicians can't seem to express themselves properly in their own language. The opposite sides are quick to jump at the chance of using these slip ups to their respective advantage which leaves the electorate wondering who's telling the truth.
n Cauchi
Feb 9th, 15:05
Shall we beleive him? Surely not now.
Joseph Gauci
Feb 9th, 15:05
Another spectacular U-turn. Ahjar thallas s-suppliers tal-medicini l-ewwel!!!
Gordon Farrugia
Feb 9th, 15:03
iduru mar-rih skond kif jaqleb - kollox teatrin...jaghmlu ftehim mal-pharmacies qalulna - l-pharmacies businesses privati u m'ghandhom l-ebda obbligazzjoni jaghmlu ftehim hekk. Igri jigi Marzu ax xbajna!!
Anthony A. Mifsud
Feb 9th, 14:59
Who will ever believe you gain ?
Ninu
marco zammit
Feb 9th, 14:51
Taht il-labour, l-isptar ta' St.luke's hlief wirdien u cockroaches ma kien hemmx. Dak sptar eh!
Paul Borg
Feb 9th, 17:01
u 25 years taht il PN x kien hemm fjuri u incens. Li ma kienx ghall ALFRED SANT , il-Mater dei kien se jismu San Raffaele u d-dirigenti kollha qieghdin il-Habs l-Italia . Barra min hekk kien se jkun sptar specjalizzat ( bil-Hlas ) b'200 sodda biss.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 17:27
u tobba pakistani ghax il-bravu mintoff ma ridx ihallas lit-tobba maltin
Ray Buhagiar
Feb 9th, 14:49
Hafna minnkom tikummentaw minghajr ma taqraw.
Joe Tabone
Feb 9th, 14:49
In 1996 LABOUR (PL) promised that medicines will remain free, only to introduce 2 taxes on medicines after a few months - FACT
In 2008 PL said that PN will introduce a charge on health care - another PL LIE!
PL = NO credibility.
A Abela
Feb 9th, 14:48
X tahwid qisna fuq merrygoround
Eddy Privitera
Feb 9th, 14:48
Kif mument jghid li l-gvern jirrifondi biss il-prezz ta' kemm tigih il-medicina. U llum jghid li l-konsumatur mhu se jhallas xejn ??? Insomma, fil-pozizzjoni li qieghed GonziPN LEST JGHID KOLLOX BIEX FORSI JISRAQ L-ELEZZJONI ! mbaghad wara, jghid li fhimnih hazin. U jerga jgib l-ewwl diskors li kien qal , meta qal li lògvern jirrifondi BISS il-prezz kemm jixtri l-medicina l-gvern !!!!
M Grima
Feb 9th, 14:46
"Dr Gonzi denied that the PN was making a u-turn, insisting that its proposal was being better explained."
Ha, ha, ha the prime minister thinks we are suckers when only a few days ago he categorically stated that he would only pay the price of what is actually paid by government. He went on to state that the patient would have to borne the difference from that of the pharmacist price.
marco zammit
Feb 9th, 14:38
Dr. L. Gonzi prim ministru ta' veru.
Maria Xuereb
Feb 9th, 14:37
Irtirata wara ohra ma tafx xi tkun ghidt l-ewwel darba u mbaghad x'hin tirrealizza li ghidt cucata kbira terga tipprova tirranga dak li tkun ghidt b'cucata ikbar.
Aristide Galea
Feb 9th, 14:34
This is another u-turn by the GonziPN because when he was asked about this the Prim Minister explained it clearly that persons who buy their medicines that are out of stock from POYC system , will not recieve the full price they paid , but the price which the government buys that particular medicine . No matter how hard GonziPN try to deny this , everyone heard this directly on TV.
carmel parnis
Feb 9th, 14:33
Ara haddiehor kellu cans dil gimgha jmur sad dipartiment tal emergenza imma ma marx u bghat il mara tieghu minflok . Forsi ma riedx jintaqa maC Dr Calvagna
M. Bezzina
Feb 9th, 16:38
haddiehor missu mar jara id dizastru li hemm ta pazjenti fil kuritur imma minflok mar jinawgura il petscan!!
M Grima
Feb 9th, 14:32
This is a u-turn by Dr. Gonzi and denying it only proves that GonziPN says one thing and does another. Perhpas Peppi Azzopardi, Norman Vella and Lou Bondi will show us one of their many clips to prove that this was an authentic U-TURN. Who wants to bet that they will do nothing of the sort.
.
M Borg
Feb 9th, 15:25
I think you did not understand the explanation. What I understood was that if someone cannot take the medicine that the goverment provides because that person is allergic to it or for some reason a better medicine can be prescribed and again it is not provided by the government, that medicine can be bought and the Health Dept will refund the cost of the medicne on its register.
G Pace
Feb 9th, 16:40
U zgur li le siehbi......li kiku kinet il kontra l istorja kiku programmmm shih juruna peppi u l business partners tijaw.
Albert Pace
Feb 9th, 14:20
Works on time and below budget. WoW a miracle has finally occurred. I recomend declaring February 9th a national holiday! So Joseph Muscat was right after all projects can be done on time and within budget.
adrian dimech
Feb 9th, 15:07
Very different project my friend very different project
Victor Calleja
Feb 9th, 14:17
Another one of your many U-turns Gonz. Mnalla jkun il PL li jikxiflek xghandek fil komma lest ghalina jekk terga titla.
D Axisa
Feb 9th, 14:17
Then if this is not a U-Turn by Dr.Gonzi, what it is? He is on record even on PBS stating that patients will get the difference. That is the difference from what the government pays and the medicine bought will have to be paid by the patient.
How are we to believe that what you are saying now is true?
M Borg
Feb 9th, 15:29
Yes but he was not referring to common medicine but to extra expensive medicne taken for example by cancer patients, when a doctor think that a medicine not on the list will be better.
In that case the patient can buy the medicine prescribed and he will get back the price of the midicine on the goverment list.
Why complain, as things stand if you want to use these medicines you get no refund.
Mr Joe Cardona
Feb 9th, 14:14
Tghid kemm tghid u x'hemm imnizzel fil-programm elettorali taghkom Onor Gonzi mhux se niblahha ghax dejjem ghamilt il-kuntrarju. Din bhal tat-taxxa se tnaqqasha u domt 5 snin biex naqqast ftit minnha ghal dawk li jaqilghu hafna. U imbaghad xi nghidu ghal Smart City u l-kumpanija tal-Brazil. dawn mhux eluf kellhjom jimpjegaw. Imma xejn ma sar minn dan, anzi wahda minnhom dabret rasha.
Peter Simpson
Feb 9th, 14:11
360 degree change! This is getting ridiculous: so much for the electoral program which has changed format beyond recognition in just a week! The problem with GonziPN lies not in ideas: these incubate by the minute according whats best for votes: but the main problem is that of credibility: projects and programs from Gonzi PN, takes years and ages to be enacted! RememberSmart City, +White Rocks?
Neil Dent
Feb 9th, 15:10
360 degree.......so he's right back on the original track then. What's your problem?
Joe Busuttil
Feb 9th, 14:10
That's not what you and Simon said a couple of days back. How can any level headed person trust you? Try and get hold of recordings from TVM programs showing you saying a different version of this one.I guess you know it ,but you're still trying to trick us.
Paul@ Micallef
Feb 9th, 14:09
I do not know which Dr Gonzi I am going to believe. I heard him say earlier this week on tv that the patients will be reimbursed by the government only for the amount that the same medicine would cost the government. Today Dr Gonzi is saying that patients will not pay anything even if it costs more than that imported by the government. Can for once Dr Gonzi be honest with the electorate?
Paul Cassar
Feb 9th, 14:07
AGAIN......................a pm contradicting himself in a day's time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..............and some still applaud !!!!!!!
K.G. Vella
Feb 9th, 14:06
No U-turn on out of stock medicines? Dr. Gonzi must think that the people of Malta and Gozo suffer from acute memory loss! Everyone heard him state that he will pay us back the amount of money that the governement pays for the medicines rather than the retaill price. Pharamcists weren't even mentioned. It was stated that the patients would have to get the refund!
A.Felix Busuttil
Feb 9th, 14:03
please decide
this is a very negative way to run a n election campaign.
Mr Simon Camilleri
Feb 9th, 14:02
It's all very well to promise that no-one pays, however for 'Government' I read ' Taxpayer'. It seems that I will have to contribute extra to make up the difference between the lower price the medicines would have been bought at, (had the system worked) and the higher retail price. i.e. the PM is asking us all to make good for the inefficiency of the system. Gee, thanks!
Ethelbert Schembri
Feb 9th, 14:01
This is an abstract from the PN electoral program; "If it happens that a particular medicine that you are entitled to is out of stock and you need it urgently, the Government will compensate you for having bought it privately on the basis of established prices."
Now this could mean that the PN had a misprint or they already changed the policy impromptu or the PN is lying about this issue !!
Keith Zerafa
Feb 9th, 13:56
1 step forward like eu countries finally
Charles Camilleri
Feb 9th, 13:53
Ghaddejt sa l-emergenxza kif kont hemm??
Dennis Spiteri
Feb 9th, 14:00
x'ghandu x'jaqsam Sur Camilleri? Kulhadd jaf l-istat tal-emergenza f'Malta kif ukoll f'pajjizi ohrajn, hlief int u l-MLP...
Joseph E Briffa
Feb 9th, 14:04
Mela mhux bizzejjed 300 ruh kuljum, Charles? Jaqaw int tmur taghmel picnic hemm?
Ray Buhagiar
Feb 9th, 14:05
daqskemm ghadda Joseph u Marie Louise. Aqra il-PL manifest u ghidli x'metodu ser juzaw biex jnehhu il-waiting list. Jien kull ma rajt hi li ser issir diskussjoni. Nigarantilek li xebgha strikes mill MUMN u MAM ser jkollna.
Adrian Agius
Feb 9th, 14:15
Bla sens.
C. Bartoli
Feb 9th, 15:49
Have you ever watched the series ER on TV...even on ER there are patients in the corridor and this is a television series. All emergency departments around the world have people waiting and stretchers in the corridor.
Charlie Tabone
Feb 9th, 16:38
Lanqas joseph ma kien kapaci jmur hemm baghat il mara....
Charles Camilleri
Feb 10th, 10:18
L-isptar infetah 5 snin. Gimgha qabel l-elezzjoni ta' l-2007 kellu diga in-nies fil-kurituri.Kollox baqa Status Quo. Qabel titkellmu infurmaw ruhkhom sew. Timmagina sptar ta 5 snin hajja diga spiccut??
Jiena mhux picninc ghamilt hemm izda hdimt u stinkajt sabiex il-pazjent ma jbaghtix fl-emergenza.Ghalhekk irrabjati ahna l-haddiema ghaliex ahna blajna il-problemi li holqu minn pjana dan lisptar
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