Yesterday, Health Minister Luis Rosado announced that the Government expects to pay "part" of its debt with the Valencian pharmacies  Sounds great until you read further.... they will pay only one of the SIX months outstanding debt by the end of this week. Their "intention" is to then pay the balance by the end of the year!

Its an absolutely shocking and disgraceful situation, leaving pharmacies at the end of their tether.  Notices in the Spanish press from the association of pharmacists in the Alicante region announce "Atencion, su salud esta en peligro" and "La provincia de Alicante quedando sin medicamentos" - which translated are "Your health is in danger" and " Alicante province is running out of medicine" !

If the pharmacies are putting out notifications like that, it truly is a worrying situation. Up to now many were paying the drug companies out of their own savings, but with 6 months debt they too have run out of credit. Every time they threaten to go out on an indefinite strike the Government dangle a carrot and promise money... but never the full outstanding amount. They pay one month to placate them slightly with the promise of more immanently.... which obviously never materializes!

Protest march in Valencia this afternoon

Today more than 2000 pharmacists went on a protest march this afternoon in Valencia, dressed in their white coats to give a"testimony of their desperation" - they are owed more than 600 million euros! To date more than 2000 jobs have been lost and 200 pharmacies have gone into bankruptcy. They chanted through megaphones at their discord.... they have mortgaged their homes and pharmacies and taken responsibility that the patient receives their medicine. Now it is the turn of the Generalitat! 

Also remember that pensioners now have to pay 10% of the cost of their medication, so that has taken some pressure off the Government. There is a monthly cap dependent on income but you MUST be a tax resident here in order to qualify. Many pensioners have discovered that their SIP cards have been deactivated on arrival at the health centre because they failed to make a tax declaration - the systems now talk to each other.

I spoke with Stuart of Alba Consultas in Altea to clarify the matter. He told me that despite repeated warnings months beforehand, many still failed to act and are now stuck. Even if you are solely on a UK state pension which is taxed at source, ie the UK, you STILL need to make a zero tax declaration here. Many failed to do so and are now in a panic with what to do as they are on a repeat prescription, which they now have to purchase at FULL cost. The authorities are in supposedly the process of refunding any amounts above the monthly cap, which will be credited directly to your bank account.