Alternattiva Demokratika has called on the government to publish regular comparative lists of medicines prices, to help consumers scrutinise the price differences between Malta and other EU countries.
AD spokesperson for consumer rights Richard Schranz said this development “should be one of the tasks taken up by the newly formed consumer agency proposed in the last budget. The government should also ask importers to account for any unjustified discrepancies between prices in Malta and other EU countries.”
Schranz added that in a small country like Malta, where the market is very restricted with “a limited number of importers, the government would be more than justified to intervene in ensuring fair competition and fair pricing for consumers.”
“Government should consider other avenues for importation, such as the creation of a non-profit cooperative set up for the purpose of importing generic medicines with a minimum mark up on prices for cost recovery,” he said.
AD also called for a study of prescription practices by doctors, and co-operation with generic drug manufacturers to develop off-patent medicines for government, through which long term agreements would keep pricing stable.
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