The Association of Businessmen and Merchants of Playa Blanca (ASEMCOM) has filed a complaint with the head of the Pharmacy Inspection, with a copy to the Consumer Service Office, the Cabildo de Lanzarote and the Yaiza City Council, to demand that there be a permanent on-call pharmacy in the town.
"We have verified that every two Saturdays and Sundays, there is no on-call pharmacy in Playa Blanca, but rather it is the one in Yaiza town that provides this service," they point out in their letter. In addition, they add that "in the case of Playa Blanca pharmacies being assigned, they are on localized duty, which we don't quite know what it is, but we have received several complaints for not answering customer calls."
The association understands that "in such an important tourist area, which has 73 percent of the entire population of the municipality of Yaiza, with almost 14,000 people residing permanently and 16,000 more during vacation periods, the on-call service is essential and almost mandatory." In addition, they recall that the Yaiza pharmacy, "which is 17 kilometers away, provides a limited service, given that the public transport service from Playa Blanca to Yaiza town ends at 10 p.m., forcing the customer to take a taxi, with the consequent cost of approximately 50 euros round trip."
"It is unacceptable"
ASEMCOM considers that "it is unacceptable that a basic service has such a high cost and inconvenience for our visitors or residents." Furthermore, they assure that the City Council and other associations and groups share this demand, and announce that they will soon convey this complaint in a meeting with the president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés.
"It wouldn't be too much to ask that a formula could be established so that there was always an on-call pharmacy in the area, or it would be much better to urge the opening of another or other pharmacies, which, as we understand it, can be accommodated by the number of inhabitants we currently have," they defend.
The letter was sent to the Pharmacy Inspection on August 22, but in the absence of a response, the association has decided to make its demand public, given the problems that this situation generates for tourists and residents.
