Pharmacists in Alicante Consider Strike Action Over Unpaid Government Debts

Pharmacies in Alicante and across the Valencian Community are facing a "critical" situation due to unpaid debts by the Consell, which the regional authority attributes to the lack of approval of the Autonomous Liquidity Fund (FLA) by the Government.

Both the pharmaceutical colleges of the Community and the employers' association have announced they will take action and respond with "maximum force" if the non-payment continues, to ensure "the viability of pharmacies and the pharmaceutical care model for citizens is not jeopardised."

One of these pressure measures could even be the closure of pharmacies in the three provinces, as announced by the Valencian pharmaceutical employers' association CONFAR. The association has stated that this non-payment "particularly affects smaller pharmacies located in rural areas."

Similarly, they have reproached the "lack of clarity" from the regional administration regarding payment deadlines and commitments, which creates "unacceptable uncertainty" for them.

This week, the Health Minister, Marciano Gómez, announced that the commitment is for the debts to be settled this July; however, professionals claim they do not have the "real guarantee" that this will happen. This is at least the outcome of the meeting between representatives of the Valencian Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges (CVCF) and the Health and Finance Ministries.

Thus, "in the best-case scenario, according to the meeting with the Administration, payments could be made by July 30." If not, "the delay could extend until the end of September."

In this regard, the CVCF highlights that in 2011 there was a scenario of non-payments that forced many pharmacists to "go into debt, mortgage, and even, in some cases, transfer their pharmacies." "It was a critical situation that left a mark on an entire sector that, despite everything experienced, continues to guarantee healthcare day by day with unwavering commitment," the entity emphasises.