Industry automation must keep the human being at its centre - Francis Zammit Dimech

“We need to be ready to face future trends in the pharmaceutical industry. In this regard, the human being needs to remain at the centre of any future development linked with automation. This is a major conviction on which our policies are based.” MEP Francis Zammit Dimech made these remarks after visiting Aurobindo Pharma (Malta) Ltd, a leading pharmaceutical company in Malta, which has now been thriving on our islands for the past ten years.  MEP Zammit Dimech pointed out that he was glad to learn that this is the thinking that is driving Aurobindo forward, and this is totally in line with the policies which he endorses. He said that we need collectively to prepare for the challenges ahead poised by automatic and artificial intelligence since all our policies need to have the human being at their very heart.

During the visit, MEP Zammit Dimech was given a tour around the premises, offices and laboratories by Managing Director Frederick Schembri and other company officials. He said that together with other companies, Aurobindo Pharma (Malta) Ltd formed an important economic sector in Malta in which he strongly believes in.

Zammit Dimech said that he worked closely with officials from the Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU, representatives of Malta Enterprise and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), to safeguard Malta’s pharmaceutical industry following a review of EU regulations concerning pharmaceuticals. Zammit Dimech said that it was a fact that EU legislation had an impact on our economy and our jobs. “This is an example of how reviews of EU law could impact Malta and how the work of MEPs is crucial to ensure that legislation reflects our priorities,” he added.

The pharmaceutical sector is important for Malta and has contributed to increasing exports both within the EU and to third countries. It also helped to offer new career opportunities to those studying sciences, both at MCAST and at the University of Malta. In this regard, Zammit Dimech expressed his commitment to continue serving as the voice of the pharmaceutical sector at the European Parliament.

Zammit Dimech, who is a member of the MEPs against Cancer Group at the European Parliament, praised Aurobindo for its plans to invest €3 million in cancer research in Malta. He said that research was crucial to step up the fight against cancer, and that the EPP Group was pushing for cancer research to be a priority in the next Multi-Financial Framework (MFF). Earlier on this year, he presented 30 proposals to step up the fight against cancer, which included a section focused on research. He said that more investment in research is needed, as currently Malta was third from last in Europe in terms of investment in Research & Development.