Seven Years Ago Labour Promised Free HIV Medication… But Maltese Citizens Still Need To Pay
Seven years ago the Labour Party pledged that it was elected, it would offer the life-saving PrEP and PEP medications for free.
Since then, the party has been elected twice and the HIV prevention and emergency treatment are still expensive, costing up to €600 and with a very small window to acquire the money and pay.
During the 2017 election, the government pledged to improve the conditions for HIV patients and awareness in Malta. They focussed on three main aspects one of which was to make PEP free in Maltese hospitals.
Prior to the 2021 general election, PL included this same promise, that PrEP and PEP would introduced into the government’s formulary which means that they would be free from state clinics and Mater Dei.
And when that inevitably did not happen the government assured that it would be addressed in the sexual health policy that has been labelled “upcoming” for at least four years.
This policy is very far from coming out considering just this week it was announced that it will be up for public consultation by the end of the year.
So who knows how long we’d have to wait until the finalised document is released?
As indicated by its full name, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a pill which when taken correctly by HIV-negative people, is very effective in the prevention of the virus.
The drug has been credited for a drop in the rate of new HIV cases elsewhere in the world however, it has only been made available in local pharmacies.
Generic PrEP is available at these pharmacies at a price of €56.70 for 30 tablets.
Meanwhile, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Sexual Encounters (PEP or PEPSE) is an emergency medication with a small time window taken by someone at risk of HIV transmission.
PEP consists of three anti-HIV medications that need to be started within 72 hours after recent possible exposure to HIV but ideally within 24 hours of encounter.
“Every hour counts,” wrote HIV Malta on its website while educating the public on these important medications.
PEP is taken for 28 days and it comes with side-effects, so it must be used as a last resort.
It currently costs between €450 and €600.
If you think you’ve recently been exposed to HIV during sex or through sharing needles head to the GU clinic at Mater Dei straight away to obtain PEP treatment, you have up to 72 hours but the earlier you take it the more effective it will be.
If the GU clinic is closed then attend the Emergency Department (A&E) for a prescription. PEP must then be purchased from one of the following two pharmacies: Floriana Dispensary, Floriana, and St Julians Pharmacy, St Julian’s.
Questions sent to the Health Ministry by this newsroom asking why the promise has not yet been fulfilled, have gone unanswered for weeks.
Do you think its high time that these medications become free of charge in Malta?
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