GSD Raises Concerns Over Delays To Medication And Other Goods

The GSD has raised concerns over delays affecting medication and other goods entering Gibraltar. The party says documentation issues at the Spanish side of the frontier have caused disruption.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

The GSD notes with concern the issues that have resulted in a delivery of medications into Gibraltar being  blocked on the Spanish side of the land frontier on account of a problem with documentation. This is part of  a wider set of issues that has affected the importation of goods. 

Shadow for Health, Joelle Ladislaus MP said: “Whereas teething problems will always be a reality in a process  of implementation involving new systems, the public are right to expect that the Government could have  foreseen such issues and acted preemptively to avoid them from happening.  

Although pharmacies are not concerned about stock levels at this stage, historic events demonstrate that  the situation can change rapidly. There is the additional issue of stock that may perish in transport because  of delays with resulting losses.  

The successful implementation of something as significant as this Treaty depends on public trust. The  Government have had significant lead-in time on these arrangements, and it does beg the question why this  is happening and why it needs the drama of the Minister personally attending the frontier to ensure  importation happens.” 

Shadow Business Minister, Craig Sacarello added: “This is part of a wider issue affecting the import and  export of goods generally acrossthe frontier. Teething issues are understandable, but when the Government  has been saying they were ready in April and when they have had the benefit of an extra three months till  July, it is surprising that these issues are happening at all. Was the Government actually ready to deal with  these issues? Most of the technical issues could and should have been pre-empted had greater focus been  placed on the logistical practicalities facing the movement of goods much earlier on. It seems there is a ‘learn  on the job’ approach which, in turn, heaps the pressure on to businesses who have to deliver for customers  and have wages bills and taxes to pay. Small businesses contribute a significant portion of Government  revenue and must be prioritised to reduce the losses inflicted by these delays.”