Let's talk about it after the Epiphany, perhaps at the end of January. Despite Romano Prodi's repeated solicitations, Pierluigi Bersani's third liberalization sheet also marks time in the Senate. Streamlining and many caresses to consumers, but also many pushes to categories on a war footing, can wait. From banks to insurance companies, from pharmacies to petrol stations, up to bakers and small businesses: everything slips to 2008.
Having formally stumbled over the «C drugs» dilemma – whether or not to sell prescription medicines even outside pharmacies – the Government's bill is forced to suffer a sudden (but not entirely surprising) setback. The Industry commission of Palazzo Madama has taken note that the classroom calendar, between now and the end of the year, is blocked: the Security Decree, the Welfare Protocol, the Budget which returns from the Chamber on 19 December. In short, no spaces. We'll talk about it again in the new year. "We are now going to finish at the end of January", admitted to Radiocor the rapporteur in the Senate Industry Committee, Egidio Banti (Pd).
The political contingency and the Christmas classroom crowding had their weight. But not only. The latest fibrillations were registered again yesterday on drugs, with a majority night summit with very heated tones. Two ministers with opposing positions: Bersani in favor of liberalisation, Turco against; the president of the Health Commission Ignazio Marino who proposed the removal to move forward quickly in the Health Commission (not Industry) with a delegation to Turco. All under the aegis of the mediator of the group leader of the Democratic Party, Anna Finocchiaro, and with the group leaders of the majority parties in the commissions. After the demonstration of non-registered pharmacists had taken place in front of the Senate in the morning with placards that spelled out the whole program: "Bersani santo Subito."
Modification of the rule or its excerpt to deal with a comprehensive package on the pharmaceutical system blocked by a royal decree of 1934: this is the decision that the summit addressed yesterday, but not resolved, to then vote on it in commission perhaps as early as next week. «Seventy-three years later – Marino said in the afternoon – the question of the pharmacy system must be resolved. Without destroying the liberalizations and without discounts to any lobby, but in an organic and agreed framework". A position shared by Turco. But it is difficult to mediate with that of Bersani, who fears a brake on liberalization and who allegedly accused the Senate of defending caste. So yesterday the decision was postponed, who knows if to vote on it next week in the Industry Committee. Even if the clash is only postponed to 2008 in the courtroom.
The market for "C" with prescription is worth 3 billion, but for private pharmacies, the whole system is at stake: the owner pharmacists fear losing the exclusivity on «A» as well. He would skip the bank, in short. And in the meantime, price increases have been announced for the entire "C" class since January: they are entirely borne by the citizens. Roberto Turno – Il Sole 24 Ore of 06/12/2007 IN THE FOREGROUND p. 3
