The Ministry for Consumer Affairs announced today that 18 medicines will be having their prices reduced. The percentage of reduction in medicine prices ranges up to 47%.

In a press conference at the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority in Blata l-Bajda, Chairman Marcel Pizzuto explained that the Ministry will also introduce 25 new generic medicines to the Maltese market. These medicines wil provide the Maltese public with cheaper alternative medicines.

In a video message shown during the conference, Minister Helena Dalli said that this price reduction is being announced on World Consumer Rights day which is celebrated every 15 March. She said that the Government has already reduced medicine prices in the past. In fact, the price reduction announced today marks the seventh one in three years.

The Minister also spoke about consumer protection for those that buy from the internet.

"Malta has one of the highest percentages of online consumers in Europe and it is our duty to ensure protection of online consumption."

She then announced that on 1 April, the Ministry is going to organize a conference about consumer rights.

Mr Marcel Pizzutto said that the initiative by MCCAA, the award for 'A service with a smile', is going to be re- launched.

He explained that Malta was one of the first countries in Europe to set out clear laws regarding the protection of consumer rights, as some EU countries are still struggling to create adapt legislation over this issue.

Mr Pizzutto said that 48% of the complaints filed at MCCAA in 2015 were solved and that the number of cases has been reduced drastically. In 2013, there were some 245 pending cases before the authority while now, there no more than 85. 

Chairman of the Medicines Authority, Professor Anthony Serracino Inglott explained that some of the medicines which are going to have their prices reduced include those that treat hypertension and the reduction of blood clots.

"The authority's success is in offering the largest selection of medicines to the public."

He said that there were more than 840 new medicines introduced in 2015. Prof Serracino Inglott added that the authority also obtained 13 new medicines, including those for diabetes. 

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry Joseph Camilleri, who was also present at the conference, said that MCCAA has had its budget increased from €3.4 million to €4.2 million. 

The full list of medicines can be viewed here.