DoxyPEP (taking a dose of the antibiotic doxycycline within 72 hours after sex to prevent bacterial STIs like syphilis and chlamydia) is an emerging prevention strategy globally.

📊 The Current Position in Malta

As of 2026, there are no national public health guidelines in Malta that formally regulate or recommend the use of DoxyPEP.

While Malta has recently expanded free access to HIV prevention medicines (PrEP and PEP), these policies do not cover DoxyPEP for bacterial STIs. Because practices regarding antibiotic stewardship (preventing antibiotic resistance) are strict in the EU, there is no standardised DoxyPEP protocol across Maltese clinics.

💬 How to Discuss It

If you are interested in using DoxyPEP—particularly if you have had multiple bacterial STIs in the past year—you must consult a doctor directly.

  • Where to go: Speak to a sexual health specialist at the GU Clinic at Mater Dei Hospital.
  • What to say: Be clear that you are asking about DoxyPEP for bacterial STIs, not HIV PEP.
  • The outcome: The doctor will evaluate your personal sexual health history, the local STI epidemiology, and the risks of antimicrobial resistance. They may choose to prescribe it "off-label" (using a drug for an unapproved indication based on medical judgement), but they are not obligated to do so.

(For the clinical evidence behind this strategy and dosing information, see the general DoxyPEP Evidence document.)

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