Pharmacists threaten with indefinite strike

It was only for a few weeks, but it was good while it lasted. Come Wednesday, pharmacists all over the country are back on strike, this time indefinitely. This means patients, particularly elder ones with chronic conditions, will be in trouble all over again.

It is a strike foretold. Last week, after the government announced the deal with the Troika auditors, the Pharmacists Union had warned that a new strike was coming. Today, in a special press conference, Pharmaceutical Union president Kyriakos Theodosiades announced that the strike is a response to the upcoming bill which introduce non prescription drugs to “supermarkets and toy stores”.

He also pointed out that the bill allows a pharmacist to be the owner of more than 100 pharmacies, regulate working hours to their leisure and have the stores located anywhere they choose, thus making city centers overcrowded with pharmacies. Finally, he complained about the liberalization of medicine prices, claiming it turns them into merchandise.

“The insured Greek citizens, used to having their neighborhood pharmacy will be at a loss”, said Mr. Theodosiades, adding that the bill will favor the powerful businessmen who are trying to control medical care. “Pharmacies will not go quietly like lamb to the slaughter”, he said characteristically. Getting inflammatory even, he added, “people who want medicine should go get it from the offices of Development minister Hatzidakis”.

The union states pharmacists are decided to keep their pharmacies closed until certain provisions of the bill are withdrawn. Naturally, the provision will either pass or not by next Sunday, when the bill is presented for a vote in parliament. After that, pharmacists will have to decide whether they will open their stores, or go on prolonged vacations.