The Health Ministry this evening denied that there was any discrimination between patients in the distribution of medicines.
It was reacting to separate calls for an inquiry made by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil and the Chamber of Pharmacists following allegations that medicines from the Pharmacy of Your Choice Scheme had been distributed from a party club.
The Ministry said that no political discrimination in the distribution of medicines has occurred under this administration.
"The Ministry is committed to ensure the availability of medicines to all those entitled. We are also committed that this is done in a fair, transparent and accountable manner through the Pharmacy of Your Choice initiative. The Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary will not tolerate any form of discrimination with respect to patients," the ministry said in a statement.
It added that Health and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi had requested the president of the Malta Chamber of Pharmacists to bring forward a previously-scheduled meeting to discuss the matter and for the Chamber to provide further information. He promised to act on any information that was provided.
BUSUTTIL SEEKS INQUIRY
Earlier this evening, Dr Busuttil said he expected the government to immediately carry out an independent inquiry into allegations that some patients were given preferential treatment in the distribution of medicines through the Pharmacy Of Your Choice scheme.
The inquiry should also look into allegations that medicines were being distributed at a Labour Party club, he said during a PN event held in Fgura.
He joined the Chamber of Pharmacists in its call for an investigation, made earlier today.
"The least the government can do is carry out a serious and independent inquiry... so someone takes political responsibility for this scandal," he said.
Speaking about government's recent agreement with a private hospital to carry out MRI scans, he said that this already took place under the PN government. The PL government had stopped such agreements and was now reactivating them.
Asked about a recent article in weekly newspaper Il-Mument, that reported that a patient died in the hospital corridors, he said: "It should not be normal that patients are left in corridors, let alone that they die there." He added that the PL used to criticize the situation under the PN government and did not improve the situation.
He said it was "scandalous" that, according to a story published in The Sunday Times of Malta, all but one of the Labour MEPs failed to submit an account of their revenue and expenditure during their term in office. All PN MEPs filed their annual audited accounts according to a declaration signed by all MEPs in 2009 promising more transparency on how they spent EU allowances.
"This is another example of the PLs huge hypocrisy... first they say one thing, but they deliver another," he said.
Speaking about job creation, he said the government was saying it created jobs but not enough jobs were being created and the rate of unemployment was increasing. The government was playing with numbers and was not being honest with the public. Statistics issued this morning showed an increase of 300 people looking for work in March this year compared to March 2012, he said.
"Let's have an honest discussion which means that the government should acknowledge that unemployment is on the increase," he said adding that the Opposition was ready to cooperate to create employment.
He added that during the general election the PL promised jobs for young people through the youth guarantee. But last week government announced that it would be providing private lessons for 2,000 young people when there were 5,800 young people without jobs.
He reiterated that the government was also being misleading in the way it was talking about the country's debt and deficit figures. A responsible government should be decreasing subsidies on companies since this meant spending public money, he said. But government said it would be increasing subsidies in the field of public transport, he said.
See Chamber of Pharmacists statement at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140428/local/chamber-demands-investigation-of-alleged-medicines-distribution-from-clubs.516804