This was confirmed by Dr Ray Busuttil, Health Director Ray Busuttil at a press conference held yesterday after the conclusion of a seminar entitled: The key components of a National Medicines Policy for Malta.

Dr Busuttil said that the seminar was an attempt by all those involved in the medicinal sector to continue a wide-ranging discussion that will ultimately result in a national medicines policy.

He said that this process is being carried out through the collaboration of the World Health Organisation in the form of a bilateral agreement that is signed every two years.

A working group on medicines is meeting with the task of producing a policy paper on the sector, said Dr Busuttil. He said that although there is a wide range of participants, it is impossible for all the stakeholders to be directly involved in the working group. Yet, everyone will be consulted after the policy paper is completed.

He added that the paper will set medium to long-term goals with the ultimate aim of providing a more rational use of medicines together with value for money for the public.

WHO Regional Advisor for Health, Technology and Pharmaceuticals Kees de Joncheere said that the aim of both WHO and the Maltese Health Department is to try to develop a comprehensive national policy on medicines that will ensure that these are appropriately prescribed and that value for money is offered, Mr Joncheere said.

He added that there was the possibility of further private sector involvement and possible investment by foreign pharmaceutical companies in Malta.

It was important, said Mr Joncheere, that all the different parties concerned were involved in the process to formulate this National Medicines Policy.

Ms Emma Cassar Buontempo, who is chairing the working group, gave details of its function.

The ultimate aim of the group will be to formulate a draft policy which will then be presented to parliament for approval, she said.

The policy will then be launched and an intensive information campaign will ensure that everyone concerned is aware of what the policy represents.

Ms Buontempo concluded that the aim of the policy was to make medicines more accessible to all and this would therefore also encourage a more rational use of drugs.

In his concluding remarks, Dr Busuttil said that the wider scope of the policy was to address the situation with regard to the different sectors of medicine in Malta and he gave details on the current situation regarding medical products.

He said that of around 5,000-6,000 products on the market, only 2,300 have been approved, with a potential of around 4,000 medicines being unavailable in the future.