News | Sunday, 14 March 2010

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

MEP asks EC to investigate medicine prices

Labour MEP John Attard Montalto has addressed a parliamentary question to the European Commission on the “exaggerated prices of medicines in the Maltese islands”, asking for an investigation regarding “the passive stance taken by Malta’s official structures for consumer rights” in the regard.
Attard Montalto said that “consumer protection is one of the fundamental values of the EU”, and that where medicines are concerned, “there is lack of will to protect Maltese consumers.”
He told the EC that, as can be deduced from price sampling, prices of medicines in Malta and Gozo are exaggerated, “most often costing more than double the price of identical products in Brussels”.
“It is unbelievable how important sectors such as health and consumer affairs are neglected to unlawful extents,” he claimed.
Attard Montalto’s office distributed a list to exemplify the difference in pricing between Malta and Brussels.
The listing features diabetic pills Galvus sold at €135.13 for 180 pills in Brussels and €178.97 in Malta; Tegretol sold at €7.08 for 50 pills in Brussels and €17.00 in Malta; and Zocor which sells at €21.71 for 84 pills in Brussels and €104.82 in Malta.

Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below.
Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.

EDITORIAL

Blame it on the Commission

---

INTERVIEW

The moderate progressive

---

MT Surveys

We asked.... Do you know what Vision 2015 is? 89% said ‘no’