Patients at risk of severe anaphylaxis will start receiving free EpiPens in the coming days, under a new government scheme expected to cost around €352,000 a year.
Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela said the measure would cover about 480 paediatric patients and 1,120 adults.
EpiPen is the brand name of an auto-injectable device used for self-administration of adrenaline for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis – a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause the throat to swell and victims to have difficulty breathing.
The devices are not cheap, costing up to €75 each, and have a shelf life of just a few months.
Patients eligible for free EpiPens will be assessed by clinical consultants based on previous episodes of anaphylaxis, the government said. Once approved, the medicine will be issued through the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme under updated guidelines.
Adult patients will receive two auto-injectors a year, one immediately and another later in the year, while paediatric patients will receive two at once.
Abela described the measure as an important step in preventing and managing a condition that can prove fatal within minutes, saying the injectors could save lives in critical moments.
He said the government had managed to secure the supply despite international procurement difficulties.