Health — Media — HIV Malta

The Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement (MGRM) cannot but express its disappointment at yet another missed opportunity to allocate an appropriate budgetary contribution towards new medicine for the care and prevention of HIV in the 2020 Budget Speech. This further emphasises an institutional failure in the commitment towards ending the HIV epidemic.

Based on the omission of any reference to HIV treatment in the budget speech, the community affected by HIV cannot but ask whether it will, for yet another year, be receiving the same outdated treatment which has long been struck off from international guidelines issued by EACS and WHO.

Equally questionable is an implied decision not to make preventative treatment such as PrEP more accessible to the community, notwithstanding proven track records elsewhere in Europe of drops in new HIV diagnoses as a result of better access to this treatment. Not least, PEP, taken as an emergency treatment following suspected exposure, is expected to retain the same irresponsibly high cost of €600 per treatment, with patients known to have been turned away as a result of the cost, at the risk of a perfectly avoidable seroconversion.

MGRM remains committed to fully represent the community, and give a voice to every person affected by HIV. Visit www.hivmalta.com if you are affected by HIV or if you wish to read about how to get tested, and how to prevent HIV. Get in touch with the Rainbow Support Services on 9925 5559 if you feel that you need support.

The Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement (MGRM) would like to express its disappointment to the news announced today that men who have sex with men (MSM) will be able to donate blood only after abstaining from sex for a year. The prohibition on blood donation by MSM has for several years been no longer justified given the effectiveness of modern testing methods, and it does nothing but put an unreasonable stigma on MSM, raising the question of whether there is a personal bias against MSM or gay men, rather than a scientific one. It is especially discriminatory to exclude those in a monogamous relationship, regardless of their sexuality, from being able to participate in the noble act of donating blood, potentially saving lives.

We would meanwhile like to take this opportunity to remind the authorities and the community of the importance of sexual health and its care. The past few months have been characterised by news of understaffing at the Genitourinary (GU) Clinic, where appointments for testing are being given with up to two months' waiting time. Preventative treatments such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) which reduce the risk of getting HIV by about 99% are being sold locally at almost twice the price of what someone living in most other European countries would need to pay for the same product. More seriously, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) which prevents HIV transmission following potential exposure, is being sold at Mater Dei at the shocking price of EUR 600. Individuals who are unable to afford paying that price are turned away, with the possible economic cost of a lifetime of treatment and the societal and moral cost of a person becoming HIV-positive when it could have been easily avoided through more sensible care and treatment. Finally, we remain completely in the dark with respect to a Request for Proposals launched in February 2019, which sought to improve treatment for people living with HIV, albeit at a budget which we do not feel was adequate.

The MGRM is currently finalising its three-year HIV Action Plan, starting soon with the launch of a new web portal in September 2019. HIVMalta.com is currently welcoming messages and stories from individuals who are affected by HIV. The MGRM also offers free specialized support to individuals who are affected by HIV through its Rainbow Support Service.

MGRM HIV Action Group
HIVMalta.com