San Ġwann store housing over €20 million worth of medicinal stocks riddled with safety violations
The new Central Procurement and Supplies Unit San Ġwann store, housing over €20 million worth of medicinal stocks according to a 2014 Health Ministry report, is riddled with health and safety violations. Violations include difficult to reach fire extinguishers and blocked off exit points. The Malta Independent is in possession of exclusive images of such infringements.
The medicines and supplies stored inside the CPSU San Ġwann unit are then distributed to various ‘Pharmacy of Your Choice’ registered pharmacies and hospitals across Malta and Gozo.
This newsroom is informed that the San Ġwann Unit, which according to an annual 2014 Ministry of Health report is a “state-of-the-art premises developed with the latest technology” is also undergoing issues with the cement floors. Sources have revealed with this newsroom that carpeting is being removed, and that a jack-hammer could be seen at the stores yesterday.
One can assume that further works, such as the jack-hammer, can only be present in order to address structural issues, in view of the fact that the unit in question was completed as recently as 2015.
Questions sent to the Ministry of Health have confirmed that no recent tests on the structure’s concrete have been carried out. A separate set of questions, asking to confirm that there are structural problems, what the government is planning to do in relation to addressing the number of health and safety hazards, why the situation has deteriorated to such an extent and to confirm that there are problems with the cement floor, remained unanswered by the time of going to print.
Sources have also revealed with this newsroom that “in the coming days the CPSU will not be accepting to stock more medicine, and importers will have to keep the medicines in their own stores – at a further cost.”
In the aforementioned 2014 annual Ministry of Health report, it was stated that the “centralisation of the stores [to the San Ġwann store] shall bring significant savings in terms of people management, and logistics.”
It went on to say that “It is estimated that by the end of 2015, the project would be 100% complete and ready, and no material variations are expected to occur over and above the original estimated cost of the project.”
Pictures sent to this newsroom show boxes of medicine blocking the doors to other areas and safety exit. Sources say that staff have to go over the boxes, which are filled with supplies and equipment, to go to other areas, or in case of emergency to use the relevant doors.
Other images show how safety and emergency equipment are hidden behind boxes and are difficult, in some cases impossible, to access. This can be seen from the images showing fire extinguishers barricaded by boxes, while a fire-hose pipe is completely inaccessible by the surrounding boxes.
According to the 2014 Health Ministry report, the government allocated CPSU €78 million to finance the purchase of medicines, medical devices, prosthetics and orthotics.