Government discussions are underway to include Cystic Fibrosis medication in the government formulary list, Health authorities have said.

The Government Formulary List Advisory Committee (GFLAC) is discussing the issue in light of Malta’s lack of Cystic Fibrosis medication, which is essential for those suffering with the disease on the island.

Despite the approval of the medication by both the European Union and the National Health Service in the United Kingdom in August 2020, the Cystic Fibrosis medication still has not made its way to Malta. As a result, those suffering from the condition have been left in the dark on the status of the medication’s arrival.

A woman with Cystic Fibrosis had urged authorities to import the life-saving medication. 26 year-old Mandy Vella took to Facebook to explain her situation. Vella said that her and her family were unable to afford the medication she needed. “My life is being stamped with a price, the doors of the authorities are all closed. My wish for the only medicine that can save my life and the lives of all those Maltese who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis are being ignored”, she wrote.

This newsroom reached out to the Ministry of Health to ask about the importation of Cystic Fibrosis medication to Malta. The newsroom asked if the health ministry has discussed the importation of this medication to Malta with its counterparts in the EU; why the medication is taking so long to arrive and when (and if) the medication can be expected to arrive.

The newsroom also asked what the ministry is planning to do to help cases like Vella’s and if there are any plans to import other medications that cater to other life-threatening diseases.

In response, the ministry replied that “a group of novel medicines for Cystic Fibrosis has been licensed and authorised by the European Medicines Agency, however this does not mean automatic availability and entitlement in any EU country. However, it must also be pointed out that the licensing of these medications is fluid and the situation is changing constantly.”

With regards to what can be done to help cases like Vella’s, the ministry said that “discussions were held with the consultants of these identified patients and a caring pathway has been drawn up”.

“The latest medication required for these patients were highlighted and health technology assessments were performed”, it said.