Galery

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- Because the law is not clear we want the Minister to precisely and clearly formulate that the pharmacy is owned by an eligible independent pharmacist without allowing formation of chains or involvement of business interests of pharmaceutical or other companies. This means that only a pharmacist should work as chemist and should hold 51% in case of company or the entire pharmacy if it's private business. Currently, the law is unclear. We want the words of the Minister to be put in writing in the law.

- How many are the pharmacies in Greece currently?

- They are 12 000. This is three times more than in other European countries. Pharmacies in Greece are scattered and located so as to serve people everywhere - in very small mountain villages, on remote islands. I believe that the law applicable now has helped to avail pharmacies well located throughout the country.

- So, you think the previous restriction on one pharmacy per 1500 people is necessary to be kept rather than one pharmacy per 1000 people as currently provided in the bill.

- This change is not necessary now since the actual allocation of pharmacies in Greece is one per 850 people. So, there is no reason this regulation relating to population to be introduced. There is no need to change the old law which guarantees that no new pharmacies will be opened. And as the minister himself said, the increase in their number would increase pharmaceutical costs. On the other hand, this is not necessary in terms of their location throughout the country because the needy are served well.

- What do you think – will the funds pay their debts to pharmacies?

- The organization for treatment of employees insured in the public sector is the fund that owes us the most money - more than 450 million euros. We have already prepaid the amount of the value added tax which was around 75 million euros. We went so far as to take bank loans at high interest in these difficult times of economic crisis and we think that this can not continue any longer.