People my age grew in a society that was led to believe that the government provided each and everyone of us with the necessary support from cradle to grave. At one time, people were also led to believe that the government was right in employing workers within its folds even if at times it was in unproductive work. This was done at a huge cost to taxpayers.
During those turbulent years, ironically, commodities like a colour television or a fixed telephone line were obtained through the intercession of intermediaries. What we consumed at lunchtime and dinner was also subject to many importation licences. Likewise, having a computer the size of a washing machine also created many unwarranted declarations to be filled, one of which stated that a business organisation could buy a computer on the understanding that workers would not be made redundant. During those times, a handful of selected importers made fortunes out of these misfortunes. Then, nobody claimed poverty, relative or otherwise, while nobody could speak about the quality of life. People had to live with what was granted to them by the authorities on the island. In that socio-economic scenario, smugglers had a field day while politically appointed street leaders spied on people and reported their findings to higher quarters. In return, people in authority had the privilege to grant permission to selected families to buy a colour television or have a fixed telephone line. This all changed when a free market policy was adopted. In a short space of time, the siege mentality changed to a market policy.
Unfortunately, the mentality that most services provided by the government are free is now ingrained in the minds of too many people. This we have to stop and eradicate. The recent announcement made by Minister for Health Dr Joseph Cassar rightly highlighted the extent of the problem of waste. People have voluntarily returned unused, sealed medicines to the health authorities with a value of around €10,000. Naturally, these could not be used and had to be thrown away.
Malta consumes about €69 million worth of medicines yearly. We should be proud that we enjoy this level of service in the health sector. Thousands, irrespective of their financial means, are entitled to free medicine. Citizens residing in larger countries do not enjoy this service. On the other hand, the fact that people, out of their own free will, have returned medicines they originally obtained free of charge, should send shivers down our spine.
The huge cost in spending is set to increase further on a yearly basis as more medicines become available to treat until now untreatable health conditions.
I can vouch that during my term as secretary general of a workers’ union, an elderly person told me that he washed the tyres of his car with a shampoo he was prescribed for his skin condition. This particular shampoo made his car tyres shine better! Others claim that they fill their prescriptions because they fear that some of their prescribed medicines may be out of stock in the future while others claim they do not take the prescribed dosage. Others tell stories which leave one wondering how resourceful one can be.
Perhaps a strong campaign in this regard would push back the mentality that medicines are free of charge. Nothing is free. Most of us contribute from our taxes, which we pay weekly, monthly or yearly. What we save can be used for other services we might need.
While one should encourage society to save money and earn interest for a rainy day, this does not work with the hoarding of medicines. Medicines should be administered meticulously to improve the quality of life. Medicines have a shelf life during which they should be stored properly to achieve the best results. Consequently, the more pills, tablets, ointments, drops, syrups and the rest one has in his medicine box will not improve his quality of life, nor will such a stash be of benefit to family members later on. Once medicines are past their sell-by date, they are thrown away. Medicines, like the many other services we enjoy, are paid for from our own taxes. People’s hard-earned money should be used properly by one and all at all times.
The recognition of the value of medicines can be seen when there are shortages and a patient is left with no option but to buy the prescribed medicines. This, more often than not, will make the news on at least one local television station and one newspaper. Granted, the cost of medicines may be high, but patients should not take medicines to store in their medicine box and throw them away at a later stage either. People must be taught that medicines are not free at all and a national concerted effort should be launched soonest to imprint this on the psyche of all.
An earnest effort should be aimed at reducing the national expenditure on medicines without reducing the wide range of health conditions that entitle people to free medicines. This needs the full co-operation of all concerned, not least the medical profession. What we save could be used for others with health conditions currently not covered by the free medicines schemes available. Ultimately, I think we can agree that “free medicines” is a huge misnomer. We consume €190,000 worth of medicines daily.
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