Twenty companies dealing in pharmaceutical and medical supplies demanded the government pay Lm8,527,042 in arrears owed for medicines and services supplied to three departments, within five days.

The companies in question filed a judicial protest yesterday against the Health Division, the Contracts Department, the Health Procurement and Supplies Services and the Attorney General demanding that the Lm8,527,042 they are owed for medicines and services supplied, be paid.

The protest was filed by Dr Hugh Peralta on behalf of A.M. Mangion Ltd, Alfred Gera and Sons Ltd, Associated Drug Co. Ltd, Associated Equipment Ltd, A.T.G. Co. Ltd, Charles de Giorgio Ltd, Drugsales Ltd, E.J. Busuttil Ltd, Cherubino Ltd, Euro Healthcare Ltd, Galeapharma Ltd, Krypton Chemists Ltd, Orme Laboratory Supplies Ltd, Pharma-Cos Ltd, V.J. Salomone Marketing Ltd, V.J. Salomone Consumer Lines Ltd, V.J. Salomone Pharma Ltd, Godrico Ltd, Technoline Ltd and Vivian Corporation Ltd.

In the protest filed against the directors general of the departments in question and the Attorney General, the companies claimed that they are owed Lm8,527,042 in arrears for medicines and services supplied to these departments. The complainants said the departments were called on to pay these debts several times, but did not respond and failed to pay the full amount due.

The companies are also entitled to interest on the arrears owed, according to EU Directive 35/2000/KE which came into affect on 29 June 2000. In the protest, it was also mentioned that the time lapsed on these payments runs from a few months to a number of years.

In light of this, the 20 companies demanded that the government pay the eight and a half million owed within five days.