In 2025, the Kamra Tal-Ispizjara Ta' Malta (Malta Chamber of Pharmacists) proudly celebrates 125 years of championing the pharmacy profession. But, while our history can be traced back to 1900, we are not looking backward - we are very much 125 years young: dynamic, forward-thinking, and always focused on what matters most - the pharmacists in the service of patient and society.

A historic beginning

The Kamra, then called Camera Farmaceutica, was founded by a group of visionary community pharmacists in Valletta at the turn of the 20th century. At the time, Malta was still a British colony. Formal recognition of healthcare professions was still in its infancy. The Kamra was established "to uphold the honour and promote the interests of the pharmaceutical profession in Malta".

From those early days, it has always placed patient safety and professional ethics at the centre of its mission, which continues to evolve.

A steady hand through change

Throughout decades of political, social, and professional transformation - from world wars to EU membership - the Kamra has been a resilient and reliable advocate, supporting pharmacists, ensuring their contributions to patient care are fully recognised.

Influential leaders from within the Kamra have shaped public policy and healthcare reform, with the understanding that supporting pharmacists means improving care for patients. Always innovative and forward looking, since the 1980s the Kamra is possibly the first professional trade union nationally to have been, and is, led by women to date.

National representation - Proactive advocacy

The Kamra became a registered trade union in 1979. Since 2016, the Kamra holds one of the two vice-president posts of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions (CMTU) of which it has been a longstanding member.

The national professional affiliations include the Malta Federation of Professional Associations (MFPA) since its foundation, having held executive committee roles, more recently, the Malta Health Network (MHN). The Kamra is a founding Board member of the Malta Medicines Verification Organisation (MaMVO), which implements the EU Falsified Medicines Directive nationally.

Global ties, local impact

The Kamra's influence extends beyond Malta, holding founding membership in the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and the EuroPharm Forum (WHO/ Euro), membership of PGEU (Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union) and FIP (International Pharmaceutical Federation). It has held various executive positions to highest level in these organisations, which guide our strategic direction and reinforce our focus on developments in evidence-based, patient-centred pharmacy practice and policy.

Landmark achievements for patients and professionals

Among the Kamra's many contributions are:

• Establishment of the Pharmacy Board, later the Pharmacy Council;
• Recognition of government pharmacists' professional status, including career structures that strengthen public pharmaceutical services;
• Launch of the first National Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign in community pharmacies - directly engaging the public;
• Role in shaping the Healthcare Professions Act and Medicines Act, placing regulation and safety at the core of practice;
• Strong advocacy for the Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) national scheme, which dramatically improved access to NHS medicines for patients with chronic conditions, through their chosen community pharmacist in their preferred town or village pharmacy;
• Emergency Contraception Protocol, enabling pharmacists to respond swiftly to urgent patient needs;
• Implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD), strengthening patient safety at the dispensing level; and
• Introduction of Medicines Use Reviews (MURs) in POYC, consolidating pharmacists' role in optimal medicines' use, advisor and adherence supporter for patients for best healthcare outcomes

Each of these achievements has been driven by a desire to enhance patient outcomes, reduce medication risks, and ensure that pharmacists are fully integrated into primary and preventive healthcare.

Resilience and innovation in the 2020s

The past five years have tested health systems worldwide. Through the Covid-19 pandemic, the wider challenges in medicine supply and workforce shortages, the Kamra has stood firm - advocating for pharmacists so they could better serve patients. Notable developments include:

• Consolidation of acquired roles and developments in practice through lessons learnt during the pandemic;
• Active negotiations to reform the POYC ICT system, easing administrative burdens to allow more clinical time with patients;
• Addressing the national pharmacist shortage with awareness campaigns and action plans to sustain the MPharm programme; and
• Proactive advocacy at national and global levels for assurance of continuous access to critical medicines and to innovative medicines from Malta.

The Kamra's leadership in integrating technology and policy ensures that pharmacists can deliver more personalised, efficient and proactive care to patients.

Looking ahead: A vision for patient-focused pharmacy

As we look forward, the Kamra's priorities remain clear:

• Expand remunerated, patient-oriented services in community pharmacies;
• Redesign pharmacy spaces to include private consultation areas;
• Promote the role of the consultant pharmacist in chronic care management;
• Harness technologies such as AI and blockchain to support patient safety and personalised medicine; and
• Ensure that pharmacists are empowered to deliver point-of-care testing, vaccination, and adherence support

We are advocating for legislative changes to reflect the evolving role of the pharmacist as a frontline health professional, deeply embedded in patient care.

125 years young - Still serving pharmacists, pharmacy, and patient

Founded in 1900 to protect and uphold the profession, the Kamra has never lost sight of its ultimate mission: to serve the public good. Today, our work is more digitally-enabled and clinically focused than ever, but our purpose remains unchanged: to support pharmacists so they can better support their patients.

We are proud of our legacy. But we are even more excited by the path ahead - because the future of pharmacy in Malta is increasingly patient-centred, technology-supported, and led by resilient professionals who are ready to meet the health needs of tomorrow.

At 125, the Chamber is not growing old - it is growing bolder.

Malta Chamber of Pharmacists are full members of Malta Health Network www.maltahealthnetwork.org