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Shortage of HIV medication in Malta, Health Ministry silent.
NGO's on Malta are doing everything in their power to put pressure on the government to deliver answers, and even better: medication.
NGO's on Malta are doing everything in their power to put pressure on the government to deliver answers, and even better: medication.
So far, we are coordinating efforts and living off of peoples' generosity, but some people living with HIV have already run out of medication, with no help from anyone but NGOs at the moment.
"I'M RUNNING OUT OF MEDICATION. I don't know what to do. The hospital won't return my calls, and the pharmacy either has no stock or has no information."
These messages have been ticking in from friends living with HIV in Malta. The NGO's are receiving similar cries for assistance from our community.
Luckily, we have a strong network and a strong coalition, so people have offered amounts of THEIR OWN SUPPLY to assist.
"I can spare about a week's worth of Sustiva"
So some people living with HIV are reduced to basically scavenge their own medication.
So some people living with HIV are reduced to basically scavenge their own medication.
Staying on medication is the key to staying UNDETECTABLE which is what makes HIV UNTRANSMITTABLE. Being untransmittable is key to reach our common goal to a world without AIDS.
ABC, 123, U=U, it's really all very basic.
As much as it warms my heart to see the community helping each other in a crisis, this should not be the case for something this fundamental, especially in a EU country.
Meanwhile, new single-pill meds are stored in boxes somewhere, but due to paperwork cannot be released. Yes - There's actually a (seemingly) shortage of HIV medication in Malta, while a newer, better treatment is collecting dust in boxes do to bureaucratic circus artistry.
The Maltese Ministry of Heath refuses to even respond to mails asking about the situation.
Meanwhile, Minister for Heath and Deputy Prime Minister @chrisfearne praises the Maltese Health Care system sharing an article from MaltaToday that brags of the Maltese having the highest trust in their health system right after Denmark
(however, in the article disclaims that "The survey results for Malta are only indicative due to a lower response rate than in most other countries").
Maybe the minister is too busy showing the Catholic Church how well-functioning Mater Dei Hospital is.
This is the #1 ranking LGBTI+ friendly country according to ILGA-Europe's Rainbow map, and the country hosting Europride 2023.
This is nothing short but a scandal and an emergency.
The full statement can be found here, with tags:
https://www.facebook.com/thechristianvincent/posts/10164399974470632
https://www.facebook.com/thechristianvincent/posts/10164399974470632
