Pharmacists to close shops in opposition to sector liberalisation

A national pharmacists association on Monday called on pharmacists across Greece to participate in three successive 24-hour strikes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Successive 24-hour strikes will be held the same days next week. Local associations of pharmacists will meet in late January to decide on their further stance.

Association president Theodoros Ambatzoglou told the ANA-MPA on Monday that “the dialogue with the ministry of health ended unsuccessfully because, in our opinion, it was lacking substance”.

Talks between Health Minister Andreas Loverdos and Greek pharmacists on legislation to open their profession ended in deadlock on Friday, with the two sides unable to reach agreement on the measures proposed by the government. The draft bill on the measures is due to be tabled in Parliament next Wednesday.

Pharmacists are mostly against a proposed extension of work hours, liberalisation of pharmacy ownership provisions, a greater discount allocated to social insurance funds and any relaxation of population restrictions for opening a new pharmacy.