Access to medicines under the Maltese social security system : ethical aspects

Abstract

This project aimed to evaluate from an ethical perspective the distribution of free medicines as stipulated in the Social Security Act (1987) in Malta. Texts providing a general historical, legal and ethical background on distributive justice, especially in the context of the health sector, were identified and reviewed. The Maltese Social Security Act was also studied together with the relevant amendments over the years as well as related official documents. Chapter One gives a brief history of health services in Malta and the history of amendments to the Social Security Act. Chapter Two gives an account of current regulations and practices regarding entitlement to free medicines. Chapter Three is concerned with the history and various theories of distributive justice and the way they apply to the Maltese situation. Problems of an ethical nature in the Maltese system of entitlement to free medicines were identified and described in the light of the historical, legal and ethical side of distributive justice and some solutions were proposed. Suggestions were also made regarding further studies that can be conducted on this subject in the future.