Be the first to comment!information campaign launched about a better choice of medicines
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The Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties launched an information campaign entitled ‘Il-Medicini: Ghazla Ahjar Ghalik.’
The campaign is being led by the Medicines Authority together with the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority and was launched during a public session organised by MEUSAC.
Mr Joseph Camilleri the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary explained how this campaign is built on an ongoing process of dialogue sustained by four pillars:
1. Reduction in prices of medicines.
2. Strengthening the concerned authorities especially those that safeguard the interest of consumers and those that ensure good quality of medicines
3. Educate both health care professionals and patients about the choice and use of medicines.
4. Ensure that patients have a choice of good quality, safe and effective medicines.
This ongoing process of dialogue with pharmaceutical stakeholders is serving as a way to keep the prices of medicines at the cheapest level to the consumer whilst at the same time, the public will have available cost-effective pharmaceutical treatments.
Professor Anthony Serracino Inglott, Chairperson of the Medicines Authority, explained how the Authority assesses both originator and generic medicines to ensure that all medicines conform to the established standards of quality, safety and efficacy.
It was also explained how patients can participate in the choice of their medicine by discussing with the doctor and/or pharmacist if there are other medicines available at a cheaper price.
MCCAA Chairman Mr Marcel Pizzuto remarked how competition has to ensure that the market favours the consumer, which eventually would lead to a product of better quality, a wider choice of medicines, enhanced innovation and lower prices.
He explained how doctors and pharmacists have an important role in providing information on the choice of medicines in a way that consumers can consider equivalent medicines at a lower price.
The public session was chaired by Mr Gavril Flores Director Strategy, Operations and Regulatory Affairs within the Medicines Authority whilst Ms Helena Vella from the Licensing Directorate gave a presentation about the subject.
