382 applicants on pharmacy waiting list

This means that applicants outnumber actual pharmacies, which presently number 215.

The entry of new players in the pharmacy sector remains restricted by a law, which limits the number of pharmacies in each locality.

St Paul’s Bay emerges as the locality with the highest number of pending applications. While there are 33 applications for new pharmacies in this locality there are only seven actual pharmacies.

The number of applicants in Birkirkara (24) is more than twice the number of actual pharmacies (11).

Pending applicants have to wait for other pharmacies to close down or lose their licence to become eligible for a licence.

The law limits the number of pharmacies in each locality to one pharmacy for every 2,500 inhabitants.

A license for a pharmacy cannot be granted to an applicant who already holds a license for a pharmacy in the same town.

An applicant who already holds a license in a particular town may be granted another pharmacy license in another town provided that there are no pending applications for a pharmacy in that locality from persons who hold no license for a pharmacy.

A licensee may apply for the relocation of a pharmacy as long as the relocation is within the same town and the proposed new premises is situated no less than 300 metres walking distance from any other existing pharmacy or any premises in respect of which an application for a license is pending.

The number of pharmacies that may be licensed within the boundaries of any town or village cannot be less than two, and such pharmacies have to be situated not less than 300m walking distance from each other.

If a pharmacy is kept closed for more than six months, the license is withdrawn.

The GRTU has in the past defended the existing system claiming that the existing system ensures that investors do not simply chose the most attractive and profitable locations for investment in complete disregard of other localities which, being small, remote or poor would otherwise remain without a pharmacy.