Ms Melina Periera, MSc Pharmacotoxicology graduate (1st left); Prof. Joe Cacciottolo, Pro-Rector (6th left); Mr Mark Lawrence Zammit, visiting senior lecturer CLPH (7th left); Dr Robert Chircop, visiting lecturer CLPH (8th left); Dr Clarence Pace (9th left); Prof. Yedidia Bentur and Prof. Lea Bentur, both Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology (8th and 7th right), Dr Jeffrey Bonnici, visiting lecturer CLPH (6th from right); Ms Lara Bonnici MSc Pharmacotoxicology, student (5th right); Prof. Janet Mifsud, Head CLPH (4th right); Ms Fabrienne Catania MSc Pharmacotoxicology student (3rd right), Prof. Charmaine Gauci, Department of Public Health (2nd right) and Prof. Maria Cordina, CLPH (1st right)
The University of Malta has had a key role in the setting up of the new Malta National Poisons Centre (MNPC), which was recently inaugurated by the Minister for Health & Active Ageing, Hon. Jo Etienne Abela on 9 May 2024 at the Malta Life Sciences Park.
In fact, two graduates and two students are among the first employees there and three visiting lecturers to the University have a key role in managing the Centre.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 100,000 deaths a year are caused by non-intentional poisoning.
Minister Abela stressed on the importance of our country being equipped with such a centre, as, if there were a case of poisoning, the patient would need immediate and specialised care. He explained that the Malta National Poisons Centre and its multidisciplinary staff will be offering advise without necessarily needing to go to emergency department at Mater Dei or Gozo General Hospital. He also vouched to raise more awareness on the prevention of intoxication.
The Rector, Prof. Alfred Vella; Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo, Pro-Rector (Academic Affairs); Prof. Godfrey LaFerla, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Prof. Janet Mifsud and Prof. Maria Cordina, from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics were invited to this opening as were many other professors and lecturers within the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, amongst other distinguished local and international dignitaries.
The Department Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics offers a Masters in Pharmacotoxicology and some of its graduates and students are among the first employees manning this Centre. Mr Mark Lawrence Zammit, Visiting Senior Lecturer in the same Department who was instrumental in the setting up of this Centre as well as in developing the Masters in Pharmacotoxicology course within the University of Malta, also addressed the invitees. Dr Robert Chircop and Dr Jeffrey Bonnici, who are heading this Centre, are also key contributors as visiting lecturers, to the Masters in Pharmacotoxicology.
In fact, Dr Clarence Pace, Director General (Health Care Service) within the Ministry for Health & Active Ageing and also Visiting Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Dental Surgery, explained how the professionals running the centre, will also be training and conducting research concurrently at the University of Malta.
“We are committed to seeing this Centre continue to expand and become a point of reference in the medical industry”, said Dr Pace.