Every now and then we read about the reduction in price of a relatively few medicines. Recently, there was another reduction in the price of some medicines, a few of which were described as “substantial reductions”.

Whenever I read such reports, the first thought that comes to my mind is that Maltese and Gozitan consumers have been ripped off for so many years while the PN government did not lift a finger to stop this daylight robbery!

Those who may think that such reductions in the price of some medicines are putting an end to this “daylight robbery” had better think again. On 10 April and 20 May 2010, I had written two letters to The Sunday Times about the scandalous medicine prices in Malta. On 10 October, I wrote a letter to It-Torca giving as an example the cholesterol-lowering pills ‘Zocor’, which had their price “drastically” reduced from €34 to €24 for a packet of 28 pills, when my partner had bought them for just €3 in Istanbul!

Dr Chris Said’s secretariat had replied saying that one could not compare prices in different countries because there are always “price variations” between different countries! My reply was that a difference of eight times more couldn’t be regarded as “price variation” but as “daylight robbery”. And this eight times more “price variation” after the price of Zocor pills had been drastically reduced!

Let me now come to the point I want to make today. Two years ago I had bought a tiny bottle (3.8 ml if I remember correctly) for the treatment of toenail fungus (Locaryl) for around €65. In June this year I bought a similar medicine with a different brand name – Dr Scholl – from Barcelona. It cost me €18! So I recently checked the price of Locaryl in a local pharmacy. The price is €69.76!!

This is why I insist that a comparative list of medicine prices as found in other Mediterranean EU states should be published. Only then can Maltese and Gozitan consumers get a true picture of the situation in Malta as regards medicine prices. Perhaps the ‘Consumers Association might consider taking the initiative because I cannot see Dr Said’s Secretariat taking up this suggestion.

Eddy Privitera

MOSTA