They say beggars can’t be choosers, but this proverb does not hold for the Maltese people! In spite of the fact that Malta is probably the only country in the world that offers medicines completely free of charge to whoever is entitled to such social benefits, due to the extensive propaganda, the general public is now conditioned to be unsatisfied with the service. They want to pick up their medicines from their nearby private pharmacy, which forms the basis of the Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) scheme.

Until a few months ago, politicians used to say that our present-day system of free distribution of medicines is not sustainable and used to argue that this unique system is a chronic national burden. At one time, when the Labour Party was in government, a 50 cents fee was also obligatory each time medicines were collected.

However, as we are approaching a general election, both main parties are thinking that money is no longer a problem. It’s the votes that count now. So, to hell with financial crisis and “holes”! Hence, well over Lm1 million will be allocated to the owners of private pharmacies to keep them happy.

Implementing POYC to eliminate the queues is a super-excuse. Sometimes you spend more time waiting at a private pharmacy than at a government one. And the crux of it all is that most of them (private pharmacies) charge you a clinic fee as well.

Jonathan Debono

Ta’ Xbiex