The government is going to extend the provision of free testing sticks for diabetics starting with a trial project in four locations.

Health Minister Chris Fearne explained that those with Type 1 diabetes started to get four free sticks a day – and the machine with which to read them – as from last year. This service is now to be extended to those with Type 2 diabetes who use insulin, in Gudja, St Julians, Mġarr and Kerċem, who are already enrolled with the Pharmacy of Your Choice

This service is now to be extended to those with Type 2 diabetes who use insulin, in Gudha, St Julians, Mġarr and Kerċem, who are already enrolled with the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme, and will gradually be rolled out by year-end to other localities.

Next year, the intention is to extend the system to all Type 2 diabetics.

Patients entitled to the sticks will be notified by mail.

There are around 35,000 diabetics in Malta, almost one in every 10 of the population. Around 6,000 of them are insulin-dependent.

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