So much trumpeting was made in favour of the POYC (Pharmacy of Your Choice) project, including in the last budget. But in spite the fact that more and more funds and human resources are being pumped to expand the POYC and in spite the fact that government pharmacists and pharmacy technicians do not seem to have a bright future as the POYC continues to expand (pharmacists were not mentioned in the consultation document about the Primary Health Care Reform), it is on these very same people that the authorities are relying to dispense the Tamiflu for the patients infected with the H1N1 virus, unless they are ready to buy them!

So, it is evidently clear that the POYC is handicapped in serious cases of epidemics or pandemics because as patients have to pick up their medicines after about five days from when they hand in their prescriptions, it doesn’t make any sense that they get their antibiotics from the POYC scheme as antibiotics, (if truly needed!) are required immediately upon presentation of the prescription.

It is amazing how the general public was convinced to believe that the POYC is their ‘salvation’! So, they prefer to go out twice to their preferred private pharmacy and also risk paying a clinic fee if they have to wait for the doctor, rather than waiting for an hour in the queue. People don’t seem to realise that the POYC is expanding thanks to our taxes. The work that was previously done by half a dozen or so employees that used to work at the Mosta Government Pharmacy before it was closed down for good is currently being done by some 30 to 40 employees, including Maltapost workers!

Anyway, it’s in a stormy weather that you have to test the boat. The storm came and government pharmacists proved themselves that in spite that they are pressurised with work they are the real captains. Long live government pharmacies...

C. Micallef

Fgura