Farmacias in Trouble

The farmacias in the Alicante region haven´t been paid by the authorities since July and are fast going broke. All the farmacias in our area were closed today. There were signs up but as I didn´t go out I don´t know what they said. My friend who told me doesn´t speak Spanish so he couldn´t translate it!

Anyone know what´s going on?

This from the Costa Blanca News:

CHEMISTS in the Valencia Region have decided to take direct action against regional government by going on strike for three days next week (December 19, 20 and 21) after it defaulted on a promised 60 million euro payment to them which was due by December 10.

The agreement to make the payment was reached in November and it was to be part of an ongoing series of payments designed to reduce the massive debt the regional authority has with the chemists and at the same time relieve the cash-flow problems they are experiencing.

To that end chemists from all three province gathered outside the regional tax authority's office in Valencia on Wednesday to protest at the treatment they are receiving but earlier in the day they reached agreeement on the strike action.

This move was decided upon after representatives from the three provinces met with tax councillor, José Manuel Vela, and health councillor, Luis Rosado on Monday.

Following the meeting a spokesman for the chemists, Jaime Carbonell, said that although the meeting was amenable the representatives were told that there was a problem and the 60 million euro payment could not be made until the end of the month, which was unacceptable.

To add to the problem, chemists have said they will start rationing medicines for patients that have chronic conditions in order to reduce their stocks and their debts with the companies that supply them.

I hate to think what would happen if someone needed urgent medication and all Chemists are closed!

Joan

A similar thing has been happening in Castilla La Mancha region...

Apparently there are emergency farmacias open - I´ve been told of one in La Zenia at least.

Welcome to the real world of finances.

Regional governments need to borrow to pay their way and it's getting very expensive in Spain.

Expect things to get worse with other governmental agencies as the Spanish debt situation and unemployment worsens in 2012.

David