Citizens have been greatly inconvenienced by the decision of Greek pharmacists to shut down their stores, protesting to the changes regarding the ownership of pharmacies embedded in the new bill introduced to Greek parliament.
In pharmacies that are on duty, the scenes include long queues, chaos, tension, screaming and anxious patients who hope that their medication will still be available. It is reported that a pharmacy at a central location in Athens even employed priority lists and a door-keeper to deal with the growing crowd.
Pharmacies all over Greece have decided to go on strike since Wednesday. Pharmacists are protesting against the new bill brought to parliament and accusing the government of “unprecedented mockery,” as “they have brought last-minute changes treacherously and without warning to the bill agreed on with the Troika, changing the ownership state of pharmacies and leading the branch to a complete extinction, while also endangering public health.”
Pharmacists President to government: “11,000 pharmacies will become your grave”
Earlier in the week, the President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Attica, Konstantinos Lourantos, launched an all-out attack against the Minister for Development Kostis Chatzidakis and the government.
He mentioned that the war will continue even after the bill has been passed, proclaiming the continuation of the strikes if this is fact happens, and added, “Elections are coming. We are on the other side; 11,000 pharmacies will become your grave.”
Lourantos also urged the Greek MPs to consider that they have been elected by the Greek people and that they are not sheep herds adhering to the party line.
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