Malta LGBTIQ rights movement MGRM and its campaign HIV Malta feel that the Health Minister Chris Fearne’s replies to a series of parliamentary questions by PN MP Claudette Buttigieg fell short of the expectations raised through Malta's position at the top of ILGA's Rainbow Map.

“It only proves that in the strides made in terms of equality, we have left many people behind,” MRGM said in their statement.

On Monday and Tuesday, PN MP Buttigieg put forward a number of questions regarding sexual health in Malta and Gozo.

The questions presented on Monday revolved around HIV situation in Malta and the processes that are underway with regards to new treatments to replace out-dated ones.

Notably, the minister was quite elusive in his answers as he simply said that discussions on the topics are underway without giving away any specific information on latest developments.

“Answers given with respect to the HIV pandemic were vague,” MGRM stated, “and people living with HIV have yet again not been given a specific date by when they can expect to see any form of improvement in medication to replace the severely outdated treatment which they receive, often dating back to an approval date of 20 years ago and more.”

The organisation said that, despite being aware of the relatively high rate of HIV transmission in Malta, there still seems to be reluctance and foot-dragging in the long-promised PrEP trials; even though this preventive treatment reduces risk of HIV by in excess of 99%.

“It is thus unsurprising that one of the first decisions made when the Covid-19 pandemic first started was to limit the services given by the GU Clinic, effectively bringing to a halt the services provided by the sole government sponsored clinic that offers sexual health screening in Malta,” MGRM pointed out.

It referred to news articles celebrating a drop in HIV rates during this crisis as “laughable”, considering that little to no testing was being done.

MGRM also turned its attention to the parliamentary question that Buttigieg asked the Health Minister on Tuesday, regarding the Sexual Health Services offered in Gozo.

Fearne’s reply was that, currently there are discussions taking place regarding Sexual health Services in Gozo. Anyone from the sister island who wishes to request for such services is referred to the GU clinic in Mater Dei Hospital. 

LGBTI+ Gozo has made a statement about this earlier today, saying that the situation in Gozo is dire and that it is unacceptable that in 2020, Gozitans are still considered as second-class citizens who must be referred to Mater Dei Hospital in Malta to have access to sexual health services.

"We question the answer given by the Deputy Prime Minister and the discussions being held. LGBTI+ Gozo calls for an open dialogue with the Gozitan civil society on the subject at hand. Sexual health care is not only an LGBTI reality, but one that affects every Gozitan", LGBTI+ Gozo said.

In their statement, MGRM extended its support to the appeal made by LGBTI+ Gozo for the provision of sexual health services in Gozo.

“The double-insularity of Gozo has effectively meant that sexually active people in Gozo have limited means to access sexual health services at best, and virtually no means of accessing any form of sexual health services during the Covid-19 pandemic,” it said.
As a concluding note, MGRM said that the pandemic has proven that where there is willingness to put the right resource towards addressing a health crisis, results are obtained. 

“It is now the time to turn to HIV, the other pandemic in Malta which dates back from 1981, and resolve it once and for all.”