Doctorate in pharmacy announced on World Pharmacists Day

Minister Helena Dalli aims to increase access to pharmacists, announces price reductions for nine medicines

Minister Helena Dalli visited a pharmacy in Cospicua to mark World Pharmacists Day
Minister Helena Dalli visited a pharmacy in Cospicua to mark World Pharmacists Day
'Doctors must advise patients on generic drugs' availability'

Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Helena Dalli visited Milia’s Pharmacy in Vittoriosa today on the occasion of World Pharmacists Day. The theme this year is ‘Access to Your Pharmacist’, with the aim of creating close relationships between the public, pharmacists and other health professionals.

To mark the occasion, Pharmacy students will be handing out information on medicines at local markets to promote the theme of community pharmacists as persons of trust. Dalli said that she hoped this information would also help to demystify medicines for the general public.

Announcing the reduction in price of nine medicines Dalli also highlighted the importance of so-called generic medicines, which are identical in chemical composition to branded products, but are often much cheaper. Chemimart CEO Reginald Fava, who is also Chairman of Pharmacists Pharmacy Owners Business Section of the Malta Chamber of Commerce explained that high brand-name medicine prices normally come direct from the manufacturer and not the importer.

PRODUCT NAMEOLD PRICENEW PRICE %CHANGE
Difflam Oral Rinse 300ml€ 8.99€ 7.9911%
Olanzapin Actavis 5mg x28€ 58.45€ 24.9957%
Olanzapine Actavis 10mg x28€ 89.45€ 54.5030%
Tavanic 500mg x5€ 22.20€ 7.8065%
Tavanic 500mg x10€ 39.50€ 15.6061%
Telfast 120mg x30€ 13.38€ 8.5736%
Telfast 180mg x30€ 17.31€ 10.8437%
Virucid 800mg x35€ 29.70€ 26.909%
Zidoval 7.5mg/g€ 9.57€ 8.1515%

 

Professor Anthony Serracino Inglott praised the minister for her openness to different opinions during discussions on this issue, adding that he had shared many ideas with the minister. “Progress cannot be held back” he said.

Regarding the promotion of generic medicines by pharmacists, Serracino Inglott explained that all medicinals in Malta meet the same quality standard as in the rest of the EU. In a small market such as Malta, it is important that medicines are available at the best price. “The consumer must not be disadvantaged in either quality or price”, said the professor, adding that the minister has obtained the best price, through dialogue.

“the patient can rest assured that when the pharmacist offers a generic, it is as good as a brand name medicinal”, he said.

Serracino Inglott added that the Central Procurement & Supplies Unit within the Ministry for Health  has been given the authority to negotiate better prices with importers, on behalf of the government. This is a possiblity today as many large drug manufacturers have moved their production lines to India, which has resulted in the ability to lower their prices significantly, he said.

The minister also announced the introduction of a doctorate in pharmacy course, which will be held in partnership with the University of Illinois, Chicago - a result of a MOU signed by the universities and the Pharmacists Pharmacy Owners Business Section of the Malta Chamber of Commerce. 

Head of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Malta, Professor Lilian Azzopardi explained that the course, “opens door to advanced practise” for its 26-strong student cohort.

Visiting professor Alan Lao, from the College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago described his satisfaction with the course, a result of the two universities working closely together to develop the course, currently the only one of its kind, that combines the development and application of advanced clinical pharmacy skills with contextual research.