VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A shortage of a key HIV prevention pill in Malta is raising concerns among people living with HIV and health advocates, who warn that gaps in prevention could worsen transmission rates and increase pressure on patients.
Local stocks of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) expired earlier this month, leaving the drug unavailable through pharmacies. While PrEP is taken by HIV-negative individuals, it plays a crucial role in reducing new infections and protecting those already living with HIV from onward transmission.
Checkpoint Malta, an NGO working in sexual health and HIV awareness, said it began receiving alerts about the shortage just before Christmas. Since then, concerns have grown among patients and communities most affected by HIV.
“The government has pushed the free PrEP introduction again, so people can’t get it for free. And now they can’t even pay for it because there is no stock,” said Checkpoint Malta president Marc Buhagiar, noting that ordering the drug online is currently the only option.
Health authorities had pledged to introduce free PrEP, but a public tender for PrEP and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) has been delayed until 2026. A health ministry spokesperson said the government plans to begin providing both by the first quarter of 2026 and is “monitoring the situation” in the meantime.
Advocates warn that interruptions in prevention tools could have serious consequences for people living with HIV, who may face increased anxiety, stigma and health risks if new infections rise.
According to official figures, 721 people are currently living with HIV in Malta. In 2023, the country recorded its highest per capita rate of new HIV diagnoses in more than a decade, retaining the highest rate in Europe for the second consecutive year.
While HIV patients continue to receive state-funded treatment, campaigners argue that prevention gaps threaten to undermine years of progress in HIV care and control.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
