New stock of HIV prevention pill expected before current one expires - minister

Updated Wednesday at 10am

The health minister on Tuesday reiterated a promise to introduce free HIV prevention treatment as he insisted that a new consignment of a key HIV prevention pill is expected in Malta well before the current stock expires at the end of the month. 

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a pill consisting of a combination of two drugs, which, when taken correctly by people who are not living with HIV, is very effective in the prevention of HIV.

A number of pharmacies, including both large chains and smaller independent outlets had told Times of Malta that they either had no stock remaining or that their existing supply expired this month and could not be dispensed.

However a spokesperson for the distributor, VJ Salomone, told Times of Malta that the existing supply expires at the end of January and is therefore safe to consume for the remainder of this month. 

Sexual health advocacy and HIV awareness NGO Checkpoint Malta said it was first alerted to the problem just before Christmas. Since then, the number of people raising the alarm has increased.

Minister JoEtienne Abela in a Facebook post said PrEP was imported by VJ Salamone Ltd. The existing stock would expire at the end of this month, but a fresh consignment was ordered last May and will arrive within the next two weeks, he said.

The government's role, he said, was to facilitate the licensing processes.

He however also renewed a government promise to introduce free HIV prevention treatment 'in the coming weeks'. The government, he said, will also make more categories eligible for free Post-Exposure treatment for people at risk. Free post-exposure treatment is currently given to doctors and other medical workers and victims of sexual abuse. 

All people diagnosed with HIV would continue to receive free treatment.