The Kamra Ta’ l-Ispizjara Ta’ Malta (Malta Chamber Of Pharmacists) has had two cordial and informative meetings with representatives of the PL and PN on their proposals in their respective manifestoes on Health, in particular as they impact on Pharmacists in general, Pharmacies and Medicines.

The Kamra, recently met the leading speakers on health of the PL, Dr. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Pharmacist Mr. Adrian Meli and at another meeting the Chamber met a high level delegation of the PN which consisted of the Deputy Leader, Dr. Simon Busuttil, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Tonio Fenech, the PN Secretary General Dr. Paul Borg Olivier and Pharmacist Mr. Tonio Cassar representing the Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Cassar.

During these meetings the Kamra was informed of the aspirations of both parties with respect to their proposals on how pharmacists can be better integrated and recognised for their roles and the services they deliver in the community, and in other areas of practice, including industry and research, hospitals and innovative services in primary health care which are patient centred.

The Kamra said that it notes with satisfaction that there is agreement by both parties on the success of the Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) scheme wherein pharmacists’ professional services with personal contact with each patient, through national coverage in Malta and Gozo, is now a reality. The two parties have committed themselves to continue to develop the POYC system including IT and other services that can be delivered by pharmacists in the community.

With reference to the PL’s proposal regarding the distribution of medicines to patients to their residence, the Kamra expressed its serious concern that a proposal of such magnitude can be envisaged without the direct dispensing of medicines by pharmacists.

The Karma said “dspensing of medicines is defined as pharmacists’ exclusive role and includes the lasting personal contact between the pharmacists and patient, since medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. One should never confuse a distribution service with dispensing of medicines where a pharmacist carries out his or her unique role to enable patients to make the best use of their medicines.”

The Kamra reiterates that this is pharmacists’ exclusive role. It is not the Kamra’s wish to see a progressively positive growing system developing in the best interest of patients such as the POYC to regress to what is reminiscent of the ‘bereg’ system, whereby bags of medicines were distributed by people who were not pharmacists to the patients’ detriment.

“The two parties unanimously agreed that they would do everything possible to address and resolve the problem of out of stock medicines which is a reality,” the Karma said.

During the meeting with the PN officials, the Karma said that it was clarified that as proposed in the PN electoral manifesto, “when a medicine is out of stock, the patient shall receive the same medicine from the private stock of the pharmacy, the latter being reimbursed without any cost to the patient.

“This and other proposals will be discussed, negotiated with the incoming Administration and agreed upon by all parties concerned according to the agreement duly signed about the POYC for the next five years.”

The Karma concluded that “despite the fact that there were no meetings with the Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) as yet, the Kamra’s attention was drawn to a statement issued by AD, which addressed pharmaceutical services and medicines. Whilst this statement contains numerous inaccuracies, the Chamber invites the AD to a meeting to discuss matters relating to Pharmacists, Pharmacies and Medicines.”

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