The Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise (GRTU) has objected to the sale of influenza vaccines by doctors and government health centres, and threatened to challenge the Maltese authorities at European Commission level should the practice persist.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Chamber warned: “The GRTU contends that the sale of any pharmaceuticals, of which vaccines are a part, by the government health centres is in direct breach of the Medicines Act 2003.

“That a government department sees fit to enter into direct competition with private pharmacies to sell surplus vaccines is simply not acceptable. The GRTU will seek the support of EuroCommerce in Brussels to challenge the Maltese authorities with the European Commission, should this direct market intervention by government continue to happen.

“The GRTU regrets, but strongly objects to, the confrontational attitude being taken by the Health Department on every issue that directly affects the other important stakeholders in health services to the community.”

The GRTU issued a strong warning that any further breach of the Medicines Act by the Health Department, barring a national emergency, would be met with industrial action by pharmacy owners, their employees and other stakeholders in the sector.

According to the chamber, the government had placed itself in direct competition with pharmacy owners when it took a decision to sell its own surplus vaccines at government health centres. Health centres only provide free vaccines for those who are aged over 55 or who are suffering from a chronic illness.

Through the intervention of a GRTU member, overseas buyers had been found for the government’s surplus vaccines. Although the measure helped to offload a certain amount of the extra vaccines being made available for sale at health centres, many people had already seized the opportunity to purchase their vaccines from health centres, where doctor’s fees are not charged. Pharmacies were then left with surplus vaccine stocks, which have a relatively short shelf life and which are due to expire in April 2006.

The GRTU said that pharmacies who had cooperated fully with the national campaign would suffer unnecessary financial losses as a result of the government’s action.”

The chamber also took exception to comments given to a section of the media by National Influenza Pandemic Standing Committee chairman Dr Tanya Melillo, who said that the take-up of the influenza vaccine this year had been lower than expected. The GRTU, however, reported that pharmacy owners have seen a larger than usual take-up from the general public this year, and it was accordingly surprised by Dr Melillo’s statement.