Coeliacs might soon be able to get gluten-free products from different shops as the health authorities “explore the possibility” of a food voucher scheme.

A Health Ministry spokesman said discussions were also under way to revise the list of food given for free to the 1,050 eligible coeliacs to introduce healthier and more varied options.

“The idea is to introduce the new policy early next year. It will provide healthier dietary options while offering variety to suit the different age groups suffering from the disease,” the spokesman said.

Coeliacs are intolerant to gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. Eating gluten damages the lining of their small intestine.

Gluten-free products are usually more expensive. For example, a packet of gluten-free self-raising flour costs over €2 compared to 90c for the regular product.

Because of this expense, diagnosed coeliacs are entitled to a certain amount of free gluten-free food – such as flour, pasta, bread and biscuits – from the Government.

At the moment, they collect the products from the Birkirkara health centre between Mondays and Fridays from 2 to 6pm.

The new policy is targeted to be introduced early next year

A voucher system would mean they would be able to get free products from a range of different shops, apart from having more flexibility in terms of time, according to a woman whose child is coeliac.

The ministry spokesman told Times of Malta: “Discussions have started and a working group has been set up to provide the necessary background and administrative way forward to implement this new voucher scheme.”

This newspaper was informed that, recently, the government’s Birkirkara dispensary of gluten-free products had several items out of stock.

The spokesman explained that the system was based on an entitlement quota, with the client placing orders every month.

“For some reason or another, before September the clinic was not abiding by the actual quota system but was dispensing products according to the clients’ likings and this disrupted the supplies,” he said, adding that this led to a shortage of two out of the five types of pasta and biscuits available.

The situation was temporarily being addressed by enforcing the set quotas and placing orders as compiled by the Birkirkara clinic, he added.

A woman who attends the Birkirkara clinic regularly said the situation had already improved considerably.