Owen Farrugia, one of the founders of the pharmaceutical association, has died of cancer, aged 38.
The young man treated people in the same way he treated his family
The father of two was described by Anthony Serracino Inglott, one of his former University lecturers and a colleague, as an “ideal family man and an altruistic person”.
Despite his illness, Mr Farrugia’s main concern remained his family: he asked his friends to take care of his wife Cynthia and his two children, Prof. Serracino Inglott added.
The young man’s altruism did not stop with his relatives and he treated people the way he treated his family.
As a lecturer, he went beyond giving a talk and was always concerned about helping students in need or those who appeared to be slacking off.
Prof. Serracino Inglott said he used to tell his students to keep in mind that their end user was a person who could be their father or brother.
As an inspector with the Medicines Authority, Mr Farrugia was described as strict and rigid but also encouraging.
Mr Farrugia had left behind him an “inheritance of integrity” in the local pharmaceutical industry and will be remembered for his insistence on always putting patients first, his former lecturer said.
The Malta Pharmaceutical Association described him as a great pharmacist, whose contribution to pharmacy was significant especially when it came to regulatory affairs and teaching.
Malta Chamber of Pharmacists president Mary Ann Sant Fournier extended her condolences to the family.
His funeral is being held today at 9.30 a.m. at the Marsaxlokk parish church.