Why Isn’t A Life-Saving HIV Prevention Medication Available For Free In Malta?

Alarmingly high increases in HIV cases in Malta could be a thing of the past thanks to a newly-developed drug hitting the mainstream, but Malta still hasn’t made the life-saving drug free.

While PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) have been on the market since 2012, Malta has recently introduced the medication locally, which is a great step forward. But the price tag that comes with it means it’s impossible for some people to get treatment.

What are the drugs?

PrEP, as the name implies, is the preventative drug. It’s taken by HIV-negative people as an oral pill once a day before coming into contact with HIV to reduce their risk of HIV infection. PrEP must be taken for at least 7 days to reach optimal levels of protection against HIV.

PEP on the other hand can be seen as the ‘morning-after pill’ for HIV. It is a prevention strategy in which HIV-negative people take anti-HIV medications after coming into contact with HIV to reduce their risk of HIV infection. PEP must be started within 72 hours after HIV exposure.

The Government’s lack of assistance

During the 2017 election campaign the government had promised to better the situation in Malta, and sign a document (that can be read here) which included pledges on HIV prevention and treatment nationally. The document focused on three main points when it came to this particular issue.

1. A stronger education campaign about HIV and AIDS and more widespread availability of testing

2. Make PrEP available for purchase in Malta

3. Make PEP free in Maltese hospitals

So far, only one of those pledges has been acted on. As of yet there are still no national information campaigns, and worse, if a patient is somehow exposed to HIV the only way to get PEP is to fork out around €550 (within an incredibly-short 72 hour window) and get the treatment that way.

Questions sent to the Health Ministry by this portal about the cost, the education campaigns and why the pledge has not yet been fulfilled, have gone unanswered for weeks.

3. Getting informed and getting the medication in Malta

If you’re looking to start PrEP, you can get it online. There are two options currently recommended. The GU clinic at Mater Dei has recommended this website, which is the cheaper than any locally-sourced option. Another version, as recommended by a local pressure group, suggests buying it online from here. A six-month supply averages out to around €30 a month.

PEP on the other hand can only be bought through the hospital’s systems at the GU clinic or emergency (remember once exposed, there is only a 72-hour window to act).

Another important step to fighting the virus is getting informed. A newly-inaugurated local page is working tirelessly to get as much information as possible on the drugs out into the world. PrEPing Malta posts blogs and step by step information to help guide those who may need the information, but are confused where to start from.

“We should not fight people living with HIV, we should fight the virus,” says PrEPing Malta founder, Mark Josef Rapa. “Science has given us all the tools we need.”

Asked what piece of advice he’d most like to get out there, Mark’s response was simple: “Get informed!”

“Demand that your right to health is respected and your needs met. Any person has a right to effective treatment which not only treats a disease but also improves their quality of life.”

4. Is there a cheaper option?

As with most medication there is a cheaper ‘generic’ option. Currently, the branded version being sold is ‘Truvada’, a product manufactured by the pharmaceutical company, Gillead, and they are the ones who dictate the (extremely steep) pricing.

According to PrEPing Malta, “for generics to be introduced onto the market they have to have met “rigorous standards established by the FDA with respect to identity, strength, quality, purity, and potency.” In other words, generics are the ‘same’ as branded drugs but sold at a lower price.”

5. So what can you do?

The first step is always educate yourself on the issue, and share as much knowledge as you can with others. Some people may not even know these drugs exist. Price aside, this kind of information could make an insane difference in someones life.

The next step is always speaking up. Hold the government to their promises, and ask why they haven’t fulfilled their pledges from the ‘Equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people in the 2017 – 2022 legislative period‘ document.

The more outspoken we become about issues relating to sexual health, the safer things become. Currently, the GU Clinic at Mater Dei has a waiting period of over six weeks. This situation has come about through no fault of the staff who work there, but it is a reality on the island, and one we cannot just accept as another case of ‘that’s just the way things are’.

Share this post to raise as much awareness as possible on HIV prevention

READ NEXT: HILGBT+ Activists Fight HIV ‘Morning-After’ Drug’s Steep Price Tag