Some years ago a few local pharmacies started to charge what they called a ‘clinic fee’. Not surprisingly, in a short while this practice was adopted by very many pharmacies.

The fee for this service started at €1 or €2. Now it has gone up to €4 or €5.

Is this practice legal? If so, who decides what the fee should be? Can one refuse to pay?

Specialists charge up to €50 for a consultancy (in my experience). Not cheap by any means.

Then there is the medication prescribed by the good doctor to buy. Again not cheap.

Asking the sick client to pay an additional fee is not acceptable.

Maintaining a decent and clean waiting room, bathroom, AC, TV and seating is not cheap either.

Pharmacists and doctors should keep in mind that their customers use the amenities not by choice but out of necessity.

Sometimes it’s a matter of life or death!

At the end of the trading day it is the pharmacists and doctors who should pay, for they are the ones to take the money.

This state of affairs should not happen in a caring and Catholic society.