The Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) has expressed irritation at the Prime Minister’s attitude with regard to the recently-announced Pharmacy of your Choice (POYC) scheme.

In a strongly-worded statement, the union said the government introduced the scheme without consulting the employees concerned, who are represented by UHM.

It said they were excluded from the media conference on the matter that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi addressed on Saturday, saying this was unacceptable and a meeting for members working in the pharmaceutical sector would be called and necessary steps would be taken.

Dr Gonzi’s government has also failed to give answers with regard to accusations made by pharmacy owners about the low-quality services provided by government pharmacies, the UHM said, adding that the union’s health services section alone defended the pharmacy owners, even though the government was to blame for not investing in the pharmacies.

The UHM added that the government had also been silent with regard to a recent report that appeared in a section of the media.

The report quoted pharmacy owners as saying that there was nothing wrong with patients who collected medicines from the pharmacy of their choice having to pay a small fee. The union said this was a shameful attitude, considering that the medicines were financed by taxpayers.

The government would be paying pharmacy owners no less than Lm1.3 million (EUR3 million) so the union’s health services section said it believed Prime Minister Gonzi should ensure that good use was made of each cent that was spent.

The UHM concluded by saying it was obliged to defend workers, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who have always provided a good service.