The GRTU said today that it would also be holding an extraordinary general meeting in the coming weeks to address concerns expressed by its members about the long term effect on viability and profitability of any further reductions in medicine prices. It would be calling on its members to discuss the issue and take any action that they deem necessary.

The GRTU said that it was also directing owners of pharmacies not to sell any medicines at the new (reduced) prices agreed between the government and importers until current stocks purchased under the old prices were exhausted, unless they were given a refund of the difference from the agents from whom the stocks were bought.

This, the GRTU said, was in line with the agreement reached between the government and the importers.

The GRTU said that customers who demanded to buy medicines at the new prices should be told that they could only do so once current stocks were replaced.

GOVERNMENT REACTION

In reply to the GRTU statement, a spokesman for the Secretariat for Consumers and Fair Competition said the government had always referred to new stocks of pharmaceutical products. He said that with effect from July 1, any new stocks are to be sold at the new price.