Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1521430
10 OPINION maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 MAY 2024 Peter Agius is a PN MEP election candidate Peter Agius DURING one of my house visits in Tarxien I met Maria, a vibrant and engaging woman in her fif- ties, who has been living with di- abetes for over a decade. Maria shared her daily struggles with managing her condition, a story that is all too common among many Maltese and Gozitans. Despite her diligent efforts to maintain her health, Maria faces constant challenges due to the lack of access to the latest dia- betes management technologies that are standard in many oth- er European countries, such as France and Belgium. She spoke to me about her de- sire to use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to better man- age her condition but lamented that such devices are not cov- ered by national health insur- ance for people over 45 and liv- ing with diabetes. The financial burden of purchasing one on her own is too high, leaving her to rely on less effective methods. Hers is not a unique story. By meeting so many people like her on my campaign trail, it is now crystal clear to me that this is a huge issue in Malta. Accord- ing to recently published data, the prevalence of diabetes in our population stands at 11.2%. There are gaps in our health- care system—a system that fails to provide its citizens with the necessary tools to manage their health effectively. Maria's expe- rience underscores the urgent need for reform in our approach to diabetes care, pushing for a healthcare system that is inclu- sive, adaptive, and responsive to the needs of all its citizens. In Malta, real-time continu- ous glucose monitors (CGMs) are only reimbursed for people living with Type 1 Diabetes un- der the age of 45. Other tech- nologies are also not available in Malta. Expanding access to CGMs to all diabetics could sig- nificantly improve the lives of individuals with diabetes and offer substantial benefits to the broader healthcare system. This is something that I have been pushing for since 2020. This pressure has paid off with the technology being offered to a wider spectrum but not to all. I am committed to continuing this fight because not everyone can afford to spend €70 a week. It is not just about CGMs but also about medicines. Da- ta compiled by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations shows Malta is last on the list of EU countries when it comes to public health coverage of medi- cines, with only 6% of medicines covered as compared to 45% in Europe. Diabetics in Malta are left without key medicines which prevent health compli- cations for diabetes patients and which are widely covered by national health insurance schemes in the rest of Europe. Malta is also the last country in which patients have access to new medicines. When it comes to medicines, we are definitely not the best in Europe. This Labour government has squandered millions in the Vi- tals corruption scandal. How can this government turn its back on patients and claim that they do not have money for CGMs when its top brass is be- ing accused of money launder- ing, corruption, and bribery? Robert Abela's government has dragged its feet in rolling out CGMs. Robert Abela has a lot to explain about how he al- lowed a fraudulent deal to pro- ceed under his watch and, at the same time, act like a scourge to diabetics. Robert Abela has ig- nored the shocking revelations in the inquiry, which he tried to hide but was published by MaltaToday. While millions were siphoned from our health system for the interest of few, patients and the most vulnera- ble are ignored. But even if lack of finances is the government's main argu- ment, CGMs can reduce long- term healthcare costs from the state coffers. By improving diabetes management, CGMs can significantly reduce the incidence of diabetes-related complications, which are often costly to treat. This not only alleviates the financial burden on the healthcare system but also decreases out-of-pocket expenses for patients. CGMs should be given to all diabetics in Malta free of charge, and this would be a pivotal step towards modern- ising diabetes care, improving patient outcomes, and reduc- ing the burden on the health- care system. One more plus for the government is the data for better treatment decisions. CGMs can collect comprehen- sive data that healthcare pro- viders can use to make more informed treatment decisions. This data-driven approach can lead to more personalized and effective diabetes management strategies. Corrupt profits over patients CGMs should be given to all diabetics in Malta free of charge, and this would be a pivotal step towards modernising diabetes care, improving patient outcomes, and reducing the burden on the healthcare system.