TREASURY minister Cristóbal Montoro has announced a payment of nearly €3.1 billion to regional governments by today (Tuesday) at the latest to cover bills from their education, healthcare and social services suppliers.
A further €1.4bn will be freed up some time at the beginning of this month for other expenses to cover miscellaneous debts, including paying pharmacies for presciption medication.
“Much of the bills we are due to pay are for healthcare, which is the fundamental core of the supply chain financed through the Autonomous Region Liquidity Fund [FLA],” Montoro explains.
“By sending the money now, it means these suppliers will be paid within the legal deadline of 30 days – crucial for ensuring their financial security and enabling investment, exports and employment.”
This also means no delays should occur in providing vital services to the public, the minister adds.
“We in the central government are working hard to ensure all 17 regions in Spain are part of this agreement, and have invited the four currently outside it – the Basque Country, Navarra, Asturias and Galicia – to join up.”
Health minister Dolors Montserrat says the funding deal signed with the pharmaceuticals governing body, Farmaindustria, means chemists will be paid on time and avoid presciption drug shortages that have been experienced in previous years due to huge debts with high-street stores.
Two years ago, even fairly common presciption medication ran out in the Comunidad Valenciana due to the regional government not paying pharmacies as it had not received the funds from Madrid.
Customers reported having to go to four or five chemists to pick up their pills.
