CHEMISTS COMPLAIN OF SHORTAGES

Chemists claim several medicines have become scarce commodities and they have to send away more and more patients without even promising them they can order the necessary item.

The producers, wholesalers and chemists accuse one another with building up and retaining stocks because after July 1 they will be able to sell their products by a price about 15 pc higher. A chemist says they are unable to obtain medicines supported by health insurance, another complains wholesalers would not even discuss the problems though they are bound by a contract to deliver the necessary medicines. The Ministry of Health claims they are monitoring the market but chemists maintain there is a serious shortage and it is not reasonable that they are accused of creating it as they have no capital to stockpile medicines.

Translated by: Péter Szentmihályi Szabó