Health Minister Andreas Loverdos on Tuesday repeated that supermarkets would not be allowed to enter the retail market for pharmaceuticals under the liberalisation of pharmacies envisaged by the government, stressing that to open a pharmacy one will still need to be qualified pharmacist.
"If this doesn't satisfy pharmacists then we are playing games," the minister added, noting that he could have resorted to justice to force pharmacies to open and not allowed people to be inconvenienced.
"But I didn't do this. I am sending a message of calm. I want us to have a dialogue," he said.
Concerning the problems that the strike will cause to the general public and especially old people, Loverdos said that the 'Help at Home' programme will assist those unable to reach a pharmacy or a hospital to get their medicine.
Pharmacists in Greece have decided to hold a three-day strike starting on Wednesday in protest against government plans to liberalise their profession.
source: ANA
