Malta has a long history of providingpublicly funded health care. The first hospital recorded in the country was already functioning by 1372.[1]Today, Malta has both a public healthcare system, known as the government healthcare service, where healthcare is free at the point of delivery, and a private healthcare system.[2][3] Malta has a strong general practitioner-delivered primary care base and the public hospitals provide secondary and tertiary care. The Maltese Ministry of Health advises foreign residents to take out private medical insurance.[4]
In 2000, Malta was ranked number five in theWorld Health Organization's ranking of the world's health systems,[5] compared to theUnited States (at 37),Australia (at 32),United Kingdom (at 18) andCanada (at 30). The healthcare system in Malta closely resembles the British system,[6] as healthcare is free at the point of delivery.
It moved up four places in theEuro health consumer index from position 27 in 2014 to 23 in 2015. It was said to have decent accessibility to healthcare, but indifferent treatment results.[7]
TheMater Dei Hospital, Malta's primary hospital, opened in 2007. It has one of the largest medical buildings in Europe.
TheUniversity of Malta has amedical school and a Faculty ofHealth Sciences, the latter offering diploma, degree (BSc) and postgraduate degree courses in a number of health care disciplines.
Malta also has voluntary organisations such as the Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit (E.F.R.U.), St John Ambulance and Red Cross Malta who provide first aid services during events involving crowds.
TheMedical Association of Malta represents practitioners of the medical profession. TheMalta Medical Students' Association (MMSA) is a separate body representing Maltese medical students, and is a member ofEMSA andIFMSA. MIME, the Maltese Institute for Medical Education, is an institute set up recently to provide CME to physicians in Malta as well as medical students. TheFoundation Program followed in the UK has been introduced in Malta to stem the 'brain drain' of newly graduated physicians to the British Isles. The Malta Association of Dental Students (MADS) is a student association set up to promote the rights of Dental Surgery Students studying within the faculty of Dental Surgery of the University of Malta. It is affiliated withIADS, the International Association of Dental Students.
A 30-year concession on healthcare services in the Gozo, Karin Grech and St Lukes hospitals was granted toVitals Global Healthcare in 2015. TheMedical Association of Malta objected because of "the complete lack of experience of the operator, and the dangers of government relinquishing its control of management and the resulting profit motive.”[8] In January 2018 it was transferred toSteward Global Healthcare and precipitated a doctors' strike.[9]