WATCH: ‘This Is Abuse’: Sudden €22 Price Hike In Medicine Leaves Maltese Woman Shocked
A Maltese woman has called out a massive change in price in her medicine after she said a product she buys monthly suddenly spiked by around €22.
“This is abuse. This is the exact same package, same company, same weight,” said Rita Saliba in a live stream video. Picking up the two packages, she continues to say: “this is the one I bought last month for €2.60 from Mater Dei, and this is the one I bought from a pharmacy this week for €24.50.”
Saying she didn’t blame the pharmacist, Rita lamented the sudden change in price for her medicine, saying: “is there a need for them to make €22 from these pills that people need? M’hemmx tagħmel, you need to buy them anyway.”
Since her video went viral however, the Chamber of SMEs said they investigated Rita’s claims, and did not find any evidence of a price hike.
“Both ourselves and the agent of the medicine in question investigated this story. We have tried to contact Ms Saliba through Facebook, telephone and by posting under this story. She refused to take down the story, or talk to us, or even return our calls. Ms Mifsud either made a mistake or else she was doing this story to gain attention,” Mario Debono of the Chamber of SMEs told Lovin Malta.
However, Rita is sticking to her claims and said that if there was a mistake, she would like the public to know.
The issue of price hikes in Malta has been raising its head more and more as the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine enters its second month.
Politicians from both sides of the aisle have called on extra protections for consumers when it comes to essential goods as Malta’s standard supply chain is impacted by new restrictions aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus.
PN MP Jason Azzopardi has called out a price hike in common medicines like paracetamol – though Malta’s Consumer Authority denied this – and MEP Alex Agius Saliba said EU governments should be allowed to control the prices of essential food and sanitary products so as to prevent prices from skyrocketing.
“Abuse is always wrong but abuse in a situation where thousands of Maltese people are facing huge challenges because of a lack of work is shameful,” Agius Saliba had said.
As a consumer, Rita made it clear that she wasn’t blaming the pharmacists, with her anger and frustration aimed at whoever is raising prices.
Indeed, she explained that she usually gets her medicine from Mater Dei hospital, but since she didn’t need to visit this week, she ended up going to a local pharmacy – but was left shocked when she saw the price.
Have you experienced a price hike in essential goods in your everyday life? Contact us at [email protected] to share your experience.
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