1,300 tenders issued every year to purchase medicine

An own-initiative report issued by Health Commissioner Charles Messina recommends that one call for tenders should be issued every year leading to the yearly award of 440 tenders as opposed to the 1,300 tenders currently being issued.

Messina has carried out an own-initiative report on out-of-stock medicine, medical material and surgical devices which was presented to the media today. A second report conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman focused on the extension of catering facilities into public areas.

According to Messina's report, the procurement procedure may take up to nine months until the medicine is finally in government's hands. He argued that, among the possibilities, staggering the tenders and planning ahead might completely resolve the issue of out-of-stock medicine.

The Health Commissioner recommended the setting up of an audit team of doctors that would examine methods of prescription, the implementation of an IT stocktaking system and the setting up of pharmacies within the St Vincent de Paule Residence wards as it might prove difficult to maintain the Schedule V card for all residents.

A similar proposal was also put forward for Mater Dei Hospital. The commissioner suggested pharmacies be set up in each ward.

Over 2012, the Health Commissioner received 35 complaints, 24 of which were closed and eight still pending.

On his part, Commissioner for the Environment and Planning David Pace said his office had received 130 cases, 64 of which were closed while the rest were still pending.

The commissioner received 37 cases himself.

Pace's own-initiative report focused on street furniture where he suggested that monitoring and enforcement should be carried out by local wardens and local councils. Breach of regulations, he said, should be dealt with before tribunals and not the courts.