Healthcare in Malta
Malta may be a geographically small country compared to the giants in the West, but when it comes to health services, it serves its citizens and expatriate communities well. Here, it doesn't matter whether a patient is a citizen or a foreign national - access is the same to all medical facilities, in both private and public sectors.
Malta's healthcare system is ranked fourth best in the world, way ahead of its fellow expat destinations namely the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Japan. Much of this excellence in the field is rooted in the country's decades of devotion to improving health care in the country that can be traced back to the year 1372. Malta boasts a solid healthcare system built that is being empowered by the Ministry of Health. The MOH overseas the operations of general practitioners that make up the primary care unit as well as the secondary and tertiary health services that are being delivered by Maltese public hospitals.
Healthcare Coverage for Expats
Public healthcare in Malta is free for the country's legal residents, and, of course, this includes expatriates. Funding comes from social security contributions made by both employees and their employers. Coverage is very comprehensive, consisting of hospitalisation, prescriptions, pregnancy, childbirth, and even specialist treatment. Expats from EU and EEA countries are advised to utilise the European Health Insurance card in Malta. Their EHIC card will give them access to state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or, sometimes, free of charge.
Those from non-EU countries usually, purchase private insurance policies for themselves and their families as it gives them more freedom to handle their healthcare needs. They also believe private insurance policies are easier to understand and are more accessible, comprehensive, convenient and flexible.
Visiting a Doctor
It also wouldn't hurt to know that doctors in Malta are some of the most competent in the European continent, mainly owing to the kind of education available in the country. The University of Malta's medical school, as well as remarkable hospitals in Malta like Matar Dei, has a history of award-winning excellence in medical training and research. In general, both public and private hospitals in Malta strive to provide top quality medical treatment in a caring environment. Medical professionals are committed to providing personalised, specialised, and accessible care while upholding the best possible standards.
The language barrier will not be a problem as there are many English -speaking medical professionals in the different hospitals and medical institutions. And in the case that the health care provider is unable to communicate in English, an interpreter or translator is stationed in hospitals or clinics to help facilitate communication between health caregiver and patient.
Hospitals in Malta
Medical facilities in Malta are top-rated and offer a very reliable performance by their highly competent and qualified doctors, nurses, midwives, nursing aids, caregivers and dentists who are well trained in their fields of specialisation. Malta has two private hospitals situated on the major islands. Both of these top medical facilities offer a wide range of services such as diagnostic scans, blood tests to the complex surgeries. They also boast on using advanced medical technology such as comprehensive digital radiology system, MRI, CT spiral scan, laser assisted surgery and 4D ultrasound. The most prominent hospitals in Malta are:
DaVinci Hospita Triq Kanonku Karm Pirotta, B'Kara BKR1111, Malta
Tel: +356 2149 1200
George Borg Olivier St, Sliema SLM 1807, Malta
Tel: +356 2329 1000
Triq Salvu Psaila, Santa Venera Malta
Tel: +356 2144 2211
Victoria, Malta
Tel: +356 2156 1600
Emergency Services
Expats in Malta rarely have a hard time receiving an emergency response. The hotline is 112 and should be dialled not only for health emergencies but also for any other type of situations that require immediate help or assistance. In this country, anyone can use an ambulance without any questions asked and at virtually no cost. Expats may inform the answering operator the kind of service you would need.
*Contents in Visiting a Doctor section integrated in this article.
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