I refer to Franco Mercieca’s article ‘Why medicines cost more in Malta’ (The Sunday Times, November 13).

The tendering system guarantees the lowest prices possible- Raymond Vella, Chairman, HealthCare Business Section, Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, Valletta

While it is a fact that the pharmaceutical market in Malta is divided into the public and private sectors, it is inaccurate to conclude that government procurement is the main source of income of the drug (medicine) importers.

Government procures drugs for use under its National Health System via a tendering system and this guarantees the lowest prices possible, according to the larger volumes procured. Tender prices, however, have absolutely no relation to the prices of medicines purchased by consumers on the private market. Drug prices on any private market are set by the mother companies and benchmarked with other markets, taking into consideration a number of factors and market conditions in respective markets.

In Malta’s case, the public and private sectors are considered as separate and distinct. The alleged influence would only exist were Malta to embrace a reimbursement system which would put the public and private sectors on a level platform.