Wales Pharmacy

Wales Pharmacy is a community pharmacy at 183 Triq Manwel Dimech in Sliema, on the main road that runs behind the seafront strip. It belongs to JV Pharma, a Maltese pharmacy and wholesale group, and it pairs a dispensing counter with in-store testing and clinics run by visiting practitioners. You will find it in our directories of pharmacies in Malta and health centres in Malta.

For UK visitors and residents, a neighbourhood pharmacy like this is often the quickest route to everyday advice, simple checks and over-the-counter products. This page covers what Wales Pharmacy provides and how to arrange contact. It describes services only and does not offer medical advice.

Inside the pharmacy: testing and the POYC scheme

The pharmacist at Wales Pharmacy carries out three in-store checks: blood pressure testing, blood glucose testing and urine testing. Each is a short measurement taken at the counter, intended to help customers keep track of readings between visits to a doctor. None of them replaces medical assessment, and results should be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.

The pharmacy also takes part in the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme, usually shortened to POYC. This is a national service under which patients with a long-term condition receive free medicines or medical devices funded by the government. Eligible patients register with a pharmacy of their choice and collect their entitlement there. The process starts with an assessment at Mater Dei Hospital or a government health centre, and the paperwork is then lodged with the scheme's office. Wales Pharmacy is one of the pharmacies that can serve as the collection point.

If you are moving to Malta and expect to need regular medication, it is worth understanding how the scheme works before you register with a pharmacy.

Clinics held on the premises

A feature of the Sliema branch is a small clinic programme. Two general practitioners hold sessions on several days, covering weekday mornings and early evenings and a late-morning slot on Saturday, and a podiatrist sees patients on Tuesday afternoons. Appointments are required unless a practitioner is marked otherwise, and booking is arranged through the pharmacy.

The managing pharmacist is Margaret Parascandolo, who is also an active member of the Chamber of Pharmacists. Healthcare professionals who would like to run a private clinic at JV Pharma outlets are invited to enquire, so clinic line-ups can change over time. For nutrition rather than medicine, the directory lists A New Better Life among its nutritionists.

Hours and finding the pharmacy

Wales Pharmacy opens from 08:30 to 20:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturday, and it is closed on Sundays. On Sundays Malta runs a rota of duty pharmacies, so you may need to look elsewhere that day.

Triq Manwel Dimech is close to the Sliema seafront, so it is easy to combine a visit with a walk or a coffee. If you are choosing where to stay, our Sliema hotels page and where to stay in Malta guide explain the area, while the Valletta guide covers the ferry destination across the harbour. A short distance away, Adventure Cruises Malta runs boat trips, and our Malta weather guide helps you pack.

JV Pharma, the group behind the pharmacy

JV Pharma was founded in 1991 by Jojo Grima, a pharmacist who bought his first shop in Swieqi and set out to build a network that kept the personal feel of a local pharmacy. In 2004 the group obtained a wholesale dealer licence, and in 2008 it moved to larger warehousing in Lija. A sister company, JV Healthcare, handles the import of pharmaceutical products. Today the group runs pharmacies across Malta and Gozo and employs a large team that includes more than seventy visiting healthcare professionals.

Planning a longer stay from the UK? Our things to do in Malta page is a good place to start planning after you have picked up what you need.

Contacting Wales Pharmacy

To ask about a test, a clinic or a product, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the pharmacy.