The number of out of stock medicines has already been drastically reduced, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia said earlier today.

Addressing a press conference ahead of World Pharmacy Day on September 25, Dr Farrugia said: “We have already made some fragmented improvements to the situation. One of the main issues we have tackled has been the unnecessary bureaucracy plaguing the sector,” he said.

Describing the current medical storage system as “medieval”, the Minister said the Government was on the verge of finalising a new inventory system.

“By 2014 we will have done what is necessary to introduce more traceability and visibility in the procurement, storage and distribution of medicines across the island,” he insisted.

Dr Farrugia reiterated that the Government was in the process of centralising its medicines storage facilities. Medicines are currently stored in specialised facilities in Madliena, Marsa, St Luke’s Hospital and a host of public clinics.

The new storage facility will be housed in a disused factory in San Gwann industrial estate near Mater Dei Hospital.

“This will be centralised facility. It will also employ a cutting edge IT system,” he said, adding that next month the government will begin a public consultation process on the long term solutions to out of stock medication.

“Perhaps one day we will have a robotic system to complement the new IT system for the storage and distribution of medicines. Whatever the solution, the government is completely committed to resolving this issue,” he said.

He said the government was also preparing to launch the door-to-door distribution of medicines as promised in its electoral programme, and a public consultation process would be held.