An Indian pharmaceutical company hopes to open up a manufacturing plant in Malta in the coming years. The news was given by Samir Shah, director of S Kant Healthcare Ltd, which was one of two companies awarded EU compliance certificates by inspectors from the Medicines Authority of Malta.

Ms Shah said that the company is planning to open an office in Malta and a packaging facility at a later stage. “Ultimately we would like to invest in a manufacturing facility in Malta.

The other company that was awarded the Good Manufacturing Practice Certificate is Actavis Pharma Development Centre Private Ltd. Actavis has a manufacturing plant in Malta, which is inspected regularly by the Medicines Authority, but this time round, Maltese officials have inspected one of its India plants.

The EU compliance certificates allow the companies to export their products to the 28 EU member states. They are valid for three years but inspections may be carried out more frequently.

A Medicines Authority official explained that foreign pharmaceutical companies which country they want to carry out the inspections. This in itself generates revenue for the chosen country, in this case Malta.

Speaking at the event, Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli, who is responsible for the Medicines Authority, said an increase in EU compliant manufacturers will result in increased access to medicinal products in the EU. The increased competition can also lead to a drop in prices.