Malta's public healthcare is mainly supported by the national tax and social security system, covering various medical aspects such as hospitalization, prescription, pregnancy and childbirth, surgery and rehabilitation, aiming to provide a series of comprehensive healthcare services for all people living in Malta, including Maltese immigrants. For immigrants to Malta, all consultation fees and emergency medication are free of charge, while for general medication you will need to go to the pharmacy on your own with a prescription.
The advantages of publicly funded healthcare can be seen especially through hospitalization, where the patient stays in the hospital without the immigrant having to pay for it. At the same time, the hospital will provide specialized nursing services, and the patient's family will only need to visit at the point. As doctors' income is not directly linked to the number of patients they see, and as free medical care is guaranteed, issues such as commission on medicines, or disputes between doctors and patients, do not exist in Malta.
Malta has a strong team of generalist family doctors who provide primary healthcare services to its citizens, including prescriptions, referrals, treatment of acute and chronic diseases, disease prevention and health education. The medical staff is divided into General Practitioners, Specialists, Dentists, Emergency Nurses and Nurses, who provide a wide range of medical services including immunization, pediatrics, talking therapies, dentistry, mother and child care, diabetes treatment, etc. The majority of General Practitioners work throughout the year. The vast majority of GPs provide round-the-clock services throughout the year. Patients do not need to make an appointment in advance but simply go to the clinic and are attended to by the duty doctor. Public hospitals, on the other hand, mainly provide secondary and tertiary medical care services to patients referred by family doctors. GPs decide whether to treat their own patients or refer them to public hospitals depending on their conditions.
The Maltese private healthcare system
Malta has both a free government health insurance service and public healthcare, as well as a privately funded private healthcare system to provide high quality healthcare services. It is legal in Malta for doctors to practise more than one profession, and as a result a significant number of doctors in private practice also work in public hospitals. In recent years more and more Maltese immigrants are opting for private healthcare. By taking out a private health insurance policy, immigrants to Malta can have access to more convenient private healthcare services.
3. Other Healthcare Systems in Malta
1. Local Clinics
There are 47 local clinics in Malta***, located in Old Malta and on the island of Gozo. The attending doctors of the clinics need to be accredited by the Health Centre and have prescribing powers. GPs visit the local clinics on a regular weekly basis to listen to patients and deal with routine health checks.
2. Specialist consultants
Specialist consultants are senior doctors who have completed advanced professional studies and training, usually working in hospitals, but also in local clinics and health centers. Where necessary, GPs can refer patients to specialist physicians for further treatment.
3. CommCare Assessment Unit (CAU)
The CommCare Assessment Unit (CAU) is made up of nurses to ensure that medical care is based on the needs of the community and aims to improve the patient's ability to recover independently. Its philosophy is to enhance healthcare services while bridging the gap in the level of care between different communities. Malta also has a number of voluntary health organizations such as the Alpha Medical Society (Advanced Nursing), the Emergency Fire and Rescue Unit (EFRU), the St. John's Ambulance Brigade and the Red Cross providing first aid and nursing care to Maltese residents.
4. Emergency Care, Private Clinics and Pharmacies
Emergency care in Malta is free of charge to all, including Maltese immigrants. Every hospital has an emergency room that is open all year round. Immigrants to Malta can contact the emergency services at any time if they are in need of urgent medical attention or if they do not have access to a general practitioner for the time being. Private clinics are staffed by independent specialists and doctors who are responsible for their own medical premises, equipment and staff. As a rule, private clinics are better equipped than state clinics. In Malta, medicines are sold by pharmacists and can be prescribed by doctors and specialists. Over-the-counter medicines are usually slightly more expensive than prescription medicines as they are reimbursed through the National Health System.