Professor Anthony Serracino-Inglott, CEO of the Malta Medicines Authority (MMA), said that the renewed Memorandum of Understanding between the MMA and the Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco addresses challenges of availability and affordability.

Announced in a statement on Tuesday, the agreement aims to enhance cooperation between Malta and Italy in the realm of European pharmaceutical policy.

It seeks to improve security and accessibility to medicines while promoting sustainability and innovation across the Mediterranean and the European Union.

Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela, who presided over the signing in Rome, underscored the importance of this partnership in advancing regulatory science and streamlining processes to better serve patients.

Prof. Serracino-Inglott highlighted the value of this renewed agreement, emphasising its role in addressing challenges related to the availability and affordability of medicines.

He tells WhosWho.mt, "the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) confirms our continuous collaboration with Italy. This agreement aims to advance best practices in line with emerging trends in the pharmaceutical regulatory sciences and addresses the challenges of accessibility to medicines, considering both aspects of availability and affordability."

The MoU facilitates the exchange of information and best practices between the two countries, enabling both regulatory bodies to stay ahead of evolving pharmaceutical trends.

As Prof. Serracino-Inglott notes, "the evolvement of advanced therapies makes this professional relationship with AIFA a significant step forward to enhance innovative prospects which strengthen collaborative approaches for the benefit of the patient."

In addition to regulatory advancements, the agreement will encourage the adoption of innovative methodologies such as digitalisation, regulatory automation, and artificial intelligence to improve decision-making efficiency.

Minister Abela stressed that such collaborations are essential for enhancing healthcare services and ensuring patients benefit from the latest advancements in medicine.

During his visit to Rome, he also held discussions with Italian Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci.

Italy's health Minister Orazio Schillaci (left) and Malta's health and active aging Minister Jo Etienne Abela during the signing of the pharmaceutical agreement / DOI

According to a statement, their talks covered various areas of healthcare cooperation, including access to medicines, transplants, medical screenings, blood transfusion services, and the training of healthcare professionals.