ABOUT US
The Directorate for Pharmaceutical Affairs (DPA) holds a challenging and central position within the Maltese national health system as it strives to work within a tight balance between safeguarding public health and securing patient access to safe and effective good quality medicines yet in a manner that is equitable and sustainable.
Objectives
- To draw up policies in order to safeguard public health, promote equity and sustainability of the government pharmaceutical sector
- To ensure access to essential medicines via equitable availability and affordability
- To ensure good quality, safety and efficacy of all medicines provided by the government health service
- To ensure the rational use of such medicines via the promotion of the therapeutically sound and cost-effective use of medicines by health professionals and patients
- To participate in and communicate with EU networks and initiatives relating to Pharmaceutical Policy in order to continually improve aspects of pharmaceutical policy in Malta
- To implement EU legislation in the field of pharmaceutical policy
- To provide supportive technical information and reports for decision making regarding the inclusion of new medicines on the government formulary and follow up decisions taken throughout the lifetime of the product on the formulary
- To contribute to fair pricing of medicines in the government health services
- To provide access to evidence-based cost-effective treatment for particular individuals with an exceptional need for treatment currently not provided by the health service via the government formulary
- To follow up new expensive approved treatments on the government formulary via medicines use evaluations aimed at evaluating and improving medication use to achieve optimal patient outcomes, prevent complications and support pharmaceutical care