Alternattiva Demokratika said it agreed with the government's declaration that it was prepared to start importing medicines if steep prices persisted.

AD said the government should resort to this measure unless medicine traders cut prices to reflect the true cost of medicine.

AD chairman Michael Bri-guglio said: "The government can distribute such medicines to pharmacies for them to sell at a cheaper price than those prevailing now.

Of course, this should not free the government of its responsibilities regarding the distribution of free medicines in the public health sector to those patients eligible for them."

The statement comes in the wake of discussions between the government and medicine importers on reducing the prices of certain pharmaceutical products which have been found to be abnormally high in Malta.

In fact, a study by the government showed that the 2008 price of about three quarters of the medicines analysed were above the EU average.

The government is now in the final bouts of discussions on a deal that should bring these prices down. Should this fail, Consumer Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said has warned, the government would intervene directly to lower prices.

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