Pensioners were having to pay for medicines they were entitled to for free because these were out of stock at health centres, the Union Haddiema Maghqudin said.

The union said several pensioners complained that when they went to collect their medicines from one of the pharmacies under the pharmacy of your choice (POYC) scheme they were told the drugs were not available. Some were directed to the nearest health centre where, there too, they were told that the medicine was out of stock.

This caused great inconvenience to such people who had to fork out money to buy medicines they were entitled to for free, the union said.

It called on Social Policy Minister John Dalli, who is responsible for health, to ensure that pensioners were provided with their medicines.

Introduced last year, the POYC was seen as a breath of fresh air by patients who faced long queues at government pharmacies whenever they went to pick up medicines. Although the government has insisted that the scheme is here to stay, the roll-out was stopped last year as it encountered problems due to staff shortages.