Shortage of drugs due to financial problems
The finance pharmacies medications, even over a period of 50 days before the Administration will pay the bills for drugs dispensed,” said Rosa Lopez Torres, president of the Regional Council of Pharmacists of Castilla-La Mancha (COFCAM). However, these 50 days have already become two months and a half, the last thing you paid the Regional Government has been half of May. “Given that drug spending in the Community is 50 million euros a month, the debt now stands at 125 million euros,” says Creis.
Those most affected with regard to non-payment of Health Service of Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM) being the owners of newly opened pharmacies and those living in rural areas. The former have to deal with a very high credit while the latter depend almost entirely on sales of drugs for social security, ie, no income from other sales as in pharmacies in the cities where people seek more products para-pharmacy. “There are hopeless cases. Drugs are bad. I can not pay the dealer, so you will not receive medicines and if the Administration does not pay off the debt will be forced to close and stop supplying their customers,” President of the College of Ciudad Real.
Juan, a pharmacist in a population of 450 inhabitants, define their situation as “critical.” Nine years ago he bought the pharmacy from being effective by the royal decrees adopted in the last 10 years, “no trace” (accounts). “I was an employee, but three years ago because I had to lay off when they made the first heavy drops of drugs meant a cut in my income 25%. Step 24 hours a day in my business because I live here too and even though the people small and are available to the population. But it seems that I can not complain because we assume a high economic status, however, my salary does not exceed 1,300 euros, after discounting the self insurance, payment to the school, the loan pharmacy and the cost of electricity and telephone. “
What they ask these professionals is a clear response from the Ministry of Health of the Community. To submit a payment schedule that can meet and give a little encouragement to the sector. “We have not caused the situation did not result in spending, not mark the price of the medicine and do not refuse to continue treating patients,” says Lopez Torres. But despite this and that “we had time for the Administration to begin to resolve this issue with our collaboration, today we have received no response,” he says. “In the last decade we have continued to work with much less income, up to 50%. And if we add that we have to finance an asset whose spending generates the Administration, because it is a priority, I do not know how we can continue forward, “he adds.