Forum Opportunitajiet Indaqs PN Welcomes Free HIV Medication

Forum Opportunitajiet Indaqs Partit Nazzjonalista member Jamie Vella has welcomed the Government’s announcement of free access to HIV prevention medication, while stressing that the measure comes after years of delay and must be followed by further investment.

Reacting to Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela’s announcement that both PEP and PrEP will now be available free of charge through the public health system, Vella said it was encouraging to see PrEP finally included on the national formulary.

He noted that through FOIPN and the Partit Nazzjonalista, his party was the first in Malta to formally propose the national introduction of PrEP, sharing a statement issued in 2021 that had already highlighted this need.

Vella also acknowledged the role of non-governmental organisations, thanking them for years of persistent advocacy that kept the issue on the public health agenda.

However, he pointed out that the delay in introducing PrEP coincided with Malta registering the highest rate of new HIV infections per capita in Europe, something he said could have been reduced with earlier action.

Commenting on the decision to route PrEP prescriptions through the Genitourinary Clinic, Vella said this could encourage greater engagement with sexual health services, provided that clinics receive the staffing and resources needed to handle increased demand.

He added that with sexually transmitted infections increasing sharply in recent years, further prevention tools such as Doxy PrEP should also be considered as part of a wider sexual health strategy.

While welcoming free PrEP and PEP as an important step forward, Vella said they should mark the beginning of a broader, evidence-based approach to prevention.

He urged the Government to build on this measure through proper investment, collaboration with health professionals and NGOs, and a clear commitment to making prevention a national priority.

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