POYC back to normal as pharmacists' industrial action lifted

UHM has lifted industrial action directives by Pharmacy Of Your Choice (POYC) pharmacists, Health minister Chris Fearne tweeted this morning.

Fearne thanked everyone involved for finding a way forward, and said that all services at POYC scheme, through which people pick up free medicine from their pharmacy, was now back to normal.

Industrial action directives by POYC #Pharmacists lifted by UHM. Many thanks to all involved for the goodwill to find a way forward. Services at #POYC back to normal.

— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) February 13, 2018

Earlier last month, The Malta Chamber of Pharmacists said that it supported legitimate requests by pharmacists working in government services to request improvements to their working conditions.

Some 23 industrial actions had been put in place at state pharmacies after the workers, represented by UHM- Voice of the Workers, declared an industrial dispute over a lack of progress in talks on a new sectoral agreement.

Last month, The Medical Association of Malta also launched industrial action, after doctors refused to meet with Steward, which will take over the Gozo, St Luke’s and Karin Grech hospitals from Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH).

MAM yesterday met the government to further discuss the issue. Although the meeting failed to resolve the impasse over the hospitals privatisation, Fearne said progress was registered on some issues.

The Doctors’ union is now set for a second set of strikes on the 15 and 16 of February.