An own-initiative report by Commissioner for Health Charles Messina has found that the problem of out of stock medicines is the result of the current ‘cumbersome’ tendering process, which needs to be radically changed.

According to Mr Messina, who before becoming a member of the Ombudsman’s office worked directly in the health sector, the system adopted is too long and has to be shortened.

“I think that if the recommendations of this report are implemented and the tendering process is reformed we can have a situation where out-of-stock medicines will be a thing of the past,” he told timesofmalta.com.

Mr Messina, Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino and Environment Commissioner David Pace gave details of their work in the past 12 months.

The Health Commissioner dealt with 35 complaints while the Environment Commissioner inherited 130 cases from the former planning authority auditor.

Mr Pace said it was important that public consultation was carried out during the ongoing restructuring of Mepa.