Cancer treatment remains an underinvestment amidst higher medicine prices, PN says

The Nationalist Party has urged stronger investment in cancer treatments, as many patients are forced to resort to costly medicines not provided by the government.

PN MP Ian Vassallo Hagi said chemotherapy must be provided by government to ensure patients can secure therapy without making life-changing financial compromises.

This comes after discussions on a broad range of medicines that have seen their prices rise significantly, often doubling or tripling in price. 

“Many elderly and vulnerable people are being forced to choose between medicines and other basic necessities that affect their standard of living,” Vassallo noted, adding that these increases cancel out rises granted through COLA adjustments or pensions. 

It was also said that government covers 16% of the cost of cancer medicines for patients, compared to 100% in other countries.

Flarex eye drops, used to treat eye inflammation have seen their price increased by 233%. Similarly, Otosporin ear drops, used to treat ear infections, saw a 200% increase. 

Other popular medicines such as Buscopan tablets, used in the treatment of muscle spasms, Sudocrem, used to treat skin redness in babies, and Ventolin inhaler, used to treat asthma, are also leaving a bigger dent in patients’ wallets, especially pensioners, remarked MP Stephen Spiteri. 

Meanwhile, Graziella Attard Previ stated that government only introduced PrEP and PEP preventative medicines for the transmission of HIV, only after stock had expired, leaving people seeking out treatment to resort to online purchasing. 

Attard Previ stressed this was irresponsible, stating initiatives were only taken when stocks indicated expiry, leading to a direct order to procure the medicine.

PN MP Graziella Galea also referred to Malta’s total health expenditure, revealing that 18% of expenses were targeted towards retail medicine in 2023, well above the EU average of 13%. 

She said that on a per capita basis, spending reached €648, the second highest in the EU after Germany.

“The cumulative burden of these price increases on consumers is real and deeply concerning, particularly for the elderly, low- and middle-income earners, and the most vulnerable,” Galea stated.