Healthcare Provision

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World-class healthcare in state-of-the-art facilities

Malta’s unique history has left an indelible mark on its approach to health. The first recorded public hospital opened its doors as far back as 1372, and the Knights Hospitaller, true to their roots, built one of the largest and most progressive hospitals of their time, the Sacra Infermeria in Valletta (today a major event venue known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre), which was praised by visitors to the islands for the care and insight shown in treating the sick. Under the British, Malta (and the then-still active Sacra Infermeria) twice served as a hub for the sick and wounded, in the Crimean War of the 1850s and the First World War, earning it the nickname ‘The Nurse of the Mediterranean’.

This legacy holds strong today, with Malta boasting one of the best public healthcare systems in the world. Back in 2000, the World Health Organisation ranked it fifth globally, while more recently, in 2018, leading medical journal The Lancet placed it ninth. Away from the scoreboard, suffice it to say that the country’s sometimes laid-back attitude dissipates at the threshold of its heath facilities.

Mater Dei Hospital

Malta’s main hospital, Mater Dei, is a modern, dynamic facility housed in one of the largest medical buildings in Europe, serving as an acute, general and teaching hospital, with a specialised oncology division located nearby. The Life Sciences Park is also in close proximity, facilitating the seamless integration of the latest R&D into clinical practice.

Primary healthcare

Primary healthcare services are provided through a network of state-run health centres in the main population hubs, three of which – in Mosta, Floriana and Paola – are open for emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Healthcare in Gozo

Meanwhile, despite its low population and double insularity, healthcare provision in Gozo is just as good as in many European capitals, as attested to by Queen Mary University of London’s renowned Barts Medical School’s decision to open a Gozo campus next door to Gozo General Hospital.

Private healthcare

A thriving ecosystem of private healthcare providers is similarly recognised for its excellence, and the country has in recent years been taking tentative steps to promote itself as a destination for medical tourism.

Healthcare for expats

The public health service is free at the point of delivery for anyone working and paying social security. European Union citizens on temporary visits can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and receive free medical treatment from public hospitals and clinics, although it should be noted that this serves as a complement to healthcare insurance, not a substitute, as it does not cover travelling costs in case of serious conditions, injuries, and deaths. EU nationals staying for over three months should obtain an S1 (formerly E121) form to qualify for free healthcare. Malta has bilateral agreements with the UK and Australia, allowing residents of these countries to qualify for free medical and hospital care for stays up to one month. Other non-EU nationals should obtain travel insurance covering medical costs overseas.

Regardless of one’s insurance cover or lack thereof, no one is turned away in case of an emergency, although proof of insurance will be requested once the condition is stabilised.

As in the rest of the EU, the emergency freephone to call an ambulance is 112