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more specialised medicines for different types
of cancers. In addition, using NDSF funds, we
are investing €10 million in capital funds in
our community health centres.
The IVF legislation amendments based on
pro-life principles will double the number
of surviving embryos. This service is now
available for free at MDH, and to a wider range
of applicants. Seen holistically, these measures
give a chance to many more couples to realise
their life dream of becoming parents.
To distance the threat that new resistances to
macrobiotics pose to the community, we are
rolling out anew, state of the art antibiotics
plan. During my address at the EPSCO meeting
in Luxembourg, I urged that Anti-Microbial
Resistance be given utmost priority in the EU
Health Agenda. This was also discussed during
the most recent Valletta Declaration Meeting
with EU Health Ministers.
Recently, Mater Dei Hospital was certified as a
co-ordination centre for European specialized
hospitals known as the European Reference
Network. This network comprises over 500
health centres and hospitals specializing in rare
diseases. In Malta, there are 3,539 registered
patients with rare conditions. Sitting in the EU
Maltese presidency chair has also given us an
opportunity to place rare diseases at the top
of the EU agenda. We shall continue to strive
to reduce the isolation of afflicted patients
through more support networks.
More generally, the government will embark on
the creation of a long term and comprehensive
strategic plan for healthcare covering the
years 2020-2030. The aim will be to ensure
accessibility to all through a smart programme
of national investment.
MBR: What steps are you taking to ensure
that our healthy living and wellbeing
systems remain sustainable?
CF: Sustainability is key challenge on the
desk of any health minister. Our health
system is both excellent and free and we are
determined to keep it that way. Indeed our
investment strategy takes its cue from this core
value. In parallel, we are actively working to
consolidate further Malta’s credentials as a
centre for medical tourism, precisely to shore
up sustainability
We are doing even more on this count.
The implementation of the Patient Charter will
continue to ensure free, efficient, top-quality
and sustainable health services accessible to
all. We shall also continue to invest in better
technologies, increase the health care work
force and care in the community.
As a government we will continue to upgrade
and strengthen the health infrastructure as
well as up our game in preventive screening,
awareness, educational campaigns. We
will also further increase the availability of
free medicines which treat more diseases.
Obviously, all this calls for strategic investments
to underpin a revision of existing processes
whilst shifting the focus of care away from
hospital to the community.
MBR: How are you fostering innovation so
that all Maltese can improve their wellbeing
and healthy living?
CF: Cutting edge healthcare innovation in
is one of our top priorities. We introduced
remote patient monitoring, kicking off with
diabetes patients on insulin, allowing them to
monitor their glucose levels. This new service
gives the patient an instant blood sugar level
reading which then triggers the software to
supply potentially life-saving information.
This system can also instantly inform the
doctor, family members and the hospital when
necessary. This year we plan to implement this
technology nationwide, eventually extending
it to patients suffering from other conditions
like lung and heart diseases.
Recently at MDH, ‘Mario’, our first robot,
delivered his first medicines. ‘He’ not only
does it more efficiently but also drastically
decreases the chance of error. Maltese doctors
are currently being trained in anticipation of
the introduction of robots assisting them in
surgeries at MDH. The first roll out will be in
prostrate surgery.
MBR: One of your key objectives is to bring
innovative drugs to the market more swiftly
and in a more cost-effective manner. Could
you please elaborate on the pathways you
are exploring to achieve this?
CF: When Malta chaired the Presidency of
the EU Council, we initiated the Valletta
Declaration and set up this group of ten EU
countries with the aim of lobbying large
pharmaceutical companies for better prices
on bulk purchases of public pharmaceuticals.
During our last meeting in July, we came
together to vigorously ensure that there is
sustainable pricing of new medicines coming
on the market. Through more streamlined joint
procurement initiatives we aim to provide the
best, most accessible and advanced healthcare
and medicines to all our citizens. We wish to
continue introducing innovative medicines,
but always insisting on full price transparency.
MBR: In what ways can digital healthcare
help Malta in tackling social inequalities on
life expectancy and the level of unmet needs?
CF: While we have made great strides in
health care in Malta, the advent of blockchain
technology, digitization and artificial
intelligence is set to revolutionize the system
out of recognition. Digital healthcare can
facilitate patient care, protect his or her
information, and monitor treatment across
hospitals and health centres worldwide. In
this respect we are truly headed to some
revolutionary times.
Digital technologies are supporting health
system efforts to transition to new models of
patient-centred care as well as help develop
‘smart health’ approaches which increase
affordability, improve quality and lower costs.
Blockchain, RPA, cloud, AI and robotics, the
Internet of Medical Things, digital and virtual
reality are just some of the ways that this
wave is radically transforming health care.
These technologies can help with diagnosis,
treatment, speed, quality, diagnostic accuracy,
care and more generally to improve the patient
experience. Investment in digitization can
lead to better usage of health data in research
supporting personalized care.
Allow me, however, a quick reality check.
Digital innovation is assisting and augmenting
health staff skills, not replacing them. It is
freeing up the time of highly trained staff
to focus on more valuable, patient-facing
Continued on page 8
The strategy emphasises the shift
from hospital to community care,
thus providing more accessible
care and preventing patient
institutionalisation.
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