€1.2 million worth of the Hepititis C medication Harvoni has been donated to the government by the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF).

President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said the MCCF received the medication free of charge through negotiations with manufacturers Gilead and local suppliers AM Mangion.

The medication has a success rate of 95 to 97 per cent against that oused to date which has a success rate of 50 to 60 per cent.

Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne noted that not all Hepititis C sufferers would need this medication.

He also said that the government was to keep providing the medication through the national health service as it had obtained exceptional rates from the manufacturers.

In August, Mr Fearne had said that giving Hepatitis C patients Harvoni would cost as much as €90 million every year.

He was reacting to an investigation report by the Ombudsman which found Hepatitis C patients were being denied the treatment because of cost cutting.

The ombudsman had said that the medication would cost the authorities €75,000 per patient.