Recently, on a Monday I went to collect some medicine from the Paola health centre pharmacy. Usually during the early afternoon there aren't any queues and this errand takes about five minutes. But that day it took about half an hour.

In the waiting room there were a couple of people waiting to be served but to our disappointment there was no one behind the counter.

Apparently the pharmacists had been asked to move because the cleaners had to wash the floor behind the counters.

So obviously the customers had to wait.

Then it was the turn of the waiting area to be swept and washed so now it was the customers' turn to move out into the yard until the cleaners were ready. By the way, there were two cleaners, one sweeping and washing, the other supervising and, surprise, smoking. Yes, smoking at the health centre.

Is it ethical to clean and wash while customers are being served? The pharmacy closes at 3 p.m. on Mondays so why isn't the area cleaned after closing time? Or were the cleaners in such a hurry to leave?