In the UK, people who have illnesses, including ME and FM (fibromyalgia), which entitle them to claim disability benefits, do not – as is often mistakenly believed and reported – get free prescriptions, spectacles, or dental treatment but have to pay a contribution, if not in full; whereas some benefits claimants, seeking employment, who are fit and healthy (and, therefore, would have less need of medication) automatically get them free.

In Malta, if these are not considered chronic illnesses (‘AD chief concerned over free medicine exclusion’, The Sunday Times, April 1), what are the criteria that they do not fulfil, which the ones on the list do have?

It might be a matter of discrimination that ME and FM sufferers could contest in the European courts, if only they were not too chronically ill to do it ... Aha!