Burinex 1 mg tablets are currently out of stock, this newspaper is informed. Sources who spoke to this newspaper said that Burinex has been unavailable since mid May.

Burinex is a fast acting pill that helps the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body. Excess fluid may be due to heart failure and diseases of the liver and kidneys and can cause swelling of the legs, fluid in the abdomen and may cause shortness of breath due to fluid in the lungs.

Last week, this newspaper revealed that Buspirone, a drug used to help treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks, which was out of stock at Mater Dei Hospital’s pharmacy.

However, a few days later the government announced that it is back on Mater Dei’s pharmacy shelves.

Asked why it had not reached all POYC pharmacies, since this newspaper is informed it did not,  the health ministry replied saying it was in fact distributed by the POYC Unit on Monday to all the POYC Scheme registered community pharmacies in Malta and Gozo with patients entitled for these items under the Schedule V legislation.

As for Burinex, the ministry confirmed that there currently is an international shortage of Burinex but the Department of Health is currently working to procure a supply through alternative sources.