Exactly 104,296 Maltese patients are entitled to free medicines because they suffer from a particular medical condition.
Statistics presented in parliament on Monday show that the above number of patients – almost exactly one quarter of the entire population – is in possession of a yellow card which entitles the holder to medicinal products prescribed for diseases listed in Schedule 5 of the Social Security Act.
More than half of the patients (64,000) entitled to a yellow card suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Other common conditions include respiratory diseases (9200), and digestive diseases (8500).
Schizophrenia – a condition effecting 7,900 patients – is the fourth most common condition among those entitled to free medicines.
A further 41,000 people also suffer from diabetes and are automatically eligible for a pink card which entitles them to a limited number of medicinal products found on Government Formulary List.
Pink card holders also include people suffering from leprosy, polio and tuberculosis and people with limited income who have to submit themselves to a means test.
Other categories eligible for the pink card include refuse collection employees, prisoners, low ranking police officers, AFM personnel and even members of religious orders.
People with a pink card still have to apply for a yellow card to get medicines falling under Schedule 5.
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