The Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) has received the International Standard of Certification ISO 9001 by the Minister for Fair Competition, Small Businesses and Consumers Jason Azzopardi.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Certification, which reflects the competitiveness and consistency of an entity, counts 370 certified entities in Malta, 60 of which have been handed out by the ISO in Malta, said ISO Chairman Francis Farrugia.

POYC CEO Roseanne Camilleri, who accepted the certification this morning at St. Luke’s Hospital, thanked all individuals who worked hard to reach the standard expected by the ISO entity.

The ISO is working on being able to give certification for the Health and Safety Certification OHSAS 18001 in the future, continued Minister Azzopardi.

Minister for Health, Elderly and the Community Joe Cassar, congratulated the POYC for the success obtained over the last year. The process which started in December 2007 has resulted in the participation of 280 pharmacies, covering 60 localities in Malta and 10 in Gozo. The number of patients benefitting from this scheme is up to 93,000 and according to predictions will rise to a total of 120,000 in the future.

The Government has spent €1 Million a month in medicine subsidization with €5.6 Million spent in the POYC pharmacies, claimed Minister Cassar. He attested to surveys carried out, the satisfaction of patients making use of the scheme, and  divulged that there was an increase in the number of people who pick up their medicines as compared to before the scheme was in force.

The price for 11 new medicines will be deducted, the use of which varies from anti-coagulants, breast cancer tablets and respiratory problems medication. This brings the total number of medicines subsidized to 278, continued Minister Joe Cassar. The decrease in price has already been put in effect over the last few weeks.