Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/213780
5 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2013 White paper proposes setting up of Medicine Information Centre Over 114,000 persons registered with the Pharmacy of Your Choice Scheme THE White Paper launched by the Ministry for Health is proposing the setting up of a Medicine Information Centre for the general public requiring access to medical information. The easy access to health information over the internet is a cause of concern for the health authorities, as there's no way of assessing the credibility of the information available online. "The patient has no access to authoritative and unbiased medical information on medicines and medicines therapy management," the white paper reads. "This important matter is addressed through the setting up of a Medicine Information Centre." The white paper's goal is to ensure that patients who are entitled to free medicines under the Schedule II and Schedule V Schemes obtain the right medicines they are entitled to. This means acquiring the medicine at the right dose and formulation, from the right place and at the right time. The white paper is divided into three cornerstones: the medicines and medication therapy management; the streamlining and improvement of the traditional medication management process; and the out-of-stock medicine syndrome. 'Out-of-stock syndrome' The white paper seeks to address how the supply chain from procurement to medicine distribution to the community pharmacy is best organised so that the Out of Stock Syndrome is eliminated. The white paper proposes four options: (i) setting up the POYC Unit as a s Strategic Business Unit (ii) extending the role of the POYC Strategic Business Unit covering procurement, dispensing of medicine and patients registered with the scheme (iii) engaging a third party logistics provider for the procurement and distribution of medicines (iv) local suppliers of medicine distributing POYC medicines to community pharmacies. During 2012, over €11 million worth of the government's free medicine stock was dispensed to patients participating in the POYC Scheme, while the POYC Unit transferred over €12 million worth of the government's medicine stock to the pharmacies participating in the Scheme at the end of 2012. By the end of 2012, registered pharmacies stood at 160, with 141 in Malta and 19 in Gozo. Since its inception in December 2007, the POYC Unit has distributed and dispensed through the community pharmacies participating in the scheme over €44 million worth of government's free medicine stock. But according to the white paper, the main issue that "bedevils" the POYC scheme is that the underpinning supply chain from procurement to distribution of medicines to community registered pharmacies breaks down at the procurement stage. "This results in a state of play where, too often, the POYC Unit does not have the necessary stock in hand to supply community pharmacies," the white paper reads. The end result is that community pharmacies are faced with a situation where they do not have the medicines in stock to dispense to the patients registered with them. This has resulted in a negative whiplash from patients who do not get their medicines as these would be out of stock and from the community pharmacies which have to face the ire of patients registered with them. The white paper itself points out that the inevitable consequence is either that patient has to buy a similar medicine at their expense or abandon, temporary or otherwise, to take the medication they are prescribed with the resulting medical consequences and health risks. 'Administrative deficiencies' Community pharmacies are integrated online with the POYC Unit. As medications are dispensed, the medicine stock issued is captured by the community pharmacy onto the POYC System. This means that, in real time, the POYC unit would be informed that a particular medicine has been issued from a certain pharmacy and that a restock is required. But this process at times breaks down when a community pharmacy does not capture the data of the medi- Faith over science: 64% think we depend too much science JAMES DEBONO SIXTYFOUR percent of the Maltese agree with the statement that "we depend too much on science and not enough on faith", a Eurobarometer survey held in 27 EU member states reveals. The same view was expressed by two thirds of respondents in Bulgaria and Cyprus (both 66%). The only other countries where a majority of respondents agree that we depend too much on science is found in Greece (62%), Hungary (53%) and Slovakia (50%). Respondents living in the Netherlands (23%), Denmark (24%) and France (25%) are the least likely to agree with the statement that we depend too much on science and not enough on faith. On average, only 39% of all Europeans agree with the view that we depend too much on science and "not enough on faith". But while the Maltese are more likely to give importance to faith, they generally hold a positive outlook on the impact of science on society. In fact, 71% of the Maltese think that science has a positive impact. This means that the Maltese are slightly more sceptical than other Europeans, 77% of which think that science has a positive impact. The Maltese are also more likely to think that science makes our lives, easier, more comfortable and healthier. At least three quarters of respondents in Spain (79%), Malta (78%), Bulgaria and Sweden (both 77%) think so. In contrast, 54% of German and Slovenian respondents say the same. Overall, however, at least half of the respondents in each country agree with this statement. When it comes to the statement that science and technology make our lives healthier, it is Maltese and Irish respondents who are the most likely to agree (72% and 70% respectively). However in 13 (including Croatia) countries, fewer than half of all respondents agree. This is particularly the case in Latvia and Germany (29%). The survey reveals that 52% of the Maltese have not studied science and technology at school compared to 47% of all Europeans who have not studied these subjects. Curiously, Malta is the only country where at least half of all respondents think their government is doing enough stimulate young people's interest in science (50%). Belgium is the only other country where at least four out of ten respondents think this way (45%). At the other end of the spectrum 7% of Spanish and 9% of Romanian respondents think their government is doing enough. Compared to other Europeans, the Maltese are more likely to get their information on science and technology from television. While television is the source of such information for 65% of the Maltese, it is a source of information for only 50% of all Europeans. The Maltese are also less likely than other Europeans to think that citizens should be involved in decisions about science and technology. While 65% of Europeans think that they should be consulted or involved in such decisions, only 53% of Maltese think so. cine dispensed in real time. This would result in a situation where a pharmacy would have certain medicines listed as being in stock, while in actual fact they would have been dispensed. There is also no integrated relationship between the POYC Unit and the Central Procurement and Supplies Unit (CPSU) within the Ministry for Health (MFH) that is the function that is responsible for the procurement of medical supplies. Such a relationship is necessary to ensure that the triggering of medicine product replenishment at the community pharmacy is registered in real time with the CPSU. Expired and damaged stocks According to an exercise carried out by the POYC Unit between April 2011 and August 2013, expired or damaged stock at the POYC Unit stores amounted to €51,215 while stock expired at the community pharmacies stood at €191,221 of the total stock dispensed to pharmacies. Medicines 'not yet registered' with Medicines Authority According to stakeholders, one factor that contributes to the delay of the procurement process is that suppliers, many a time, bid for public tenders with pharmaceutical products that are yet to be registered with the Malta Medicines Authority. "Given that the normal registration process for a pharmaceutical product by MMA takes approximately seven months, the regulatory arm of the health ministry is invariably forced to issue special dispensations under the appropriate law to allow the product to be used until the registration process is concluded," the white paper says. Resources at MMA are such that they are not in a position to cope with the number of products submitted for registration – a process that in itself is sufficiently lengthy given the rigorousness of the validation process required. Notice of meeting to be held in public DETERMINATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL APPLICATIONS: PA 3666/09 - Site at Valletta Waterfront Promenade, Pinto Stores, Triq Pinto, Floriana Sanctioning of service provider booths (8 in no. 2.2m cubes) on wheels, MTA timber booth and the provision of awnings. PA 2854/09 - Site at Ta' Gbula, Triq il-Pitiross, Gudja Proposed old people's home. The meeting will be held at the MEPA boardroom, St. Francis Ravelin, Floriana. Subject to the maximum seating capacity, seats can be reserved on request for the applicant and registered objectors. Remaining seating is filled on a first come first served basis. 14th November 2013 Reservations: 2290 2018 www.mepa.org.mt