New Gozo General Hospital Helipad Reduces Emergency Patient Transfer Time To Mater Dei

The new Gozo General Hospital helipad is reducing emergency patient transfer times to Mater Dei Hospital by around 10 minutes, allowing patients requiring urgent specialised care to reach Malta’s main acute hospital faster.

The €800,000 project, developed by the Foundation for Medical Services in collaboration with Gozo General Hospital, was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Ian Borg and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri.

Located within the hospital grounds, the helipad allows air ambulance transfers to take place directly from Gozo General Hospital, removing the need for patients to first travel by ambulance to the Xewkija Heliport.

The facility is expected to benefit patients experiencing serious medical emergencies, including heart attacks, acute strokes, major trauma and other life-threatening conditions. In 2025, 130 patients required emergency helicopter transfers from Gozo to Mater Dei Hospital, with the new helipad already facilitating three transfers since its commissioning.

The helipad includes lighting systems for night operations and additional safety features. Following testing and certification, the facility is now fully operational, with emergency teams also completing training exercises.

The project forms part of wider efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Gozo, alongside ongoing developments at Gozo General Hospital aimed at creating a more comprehensive healthcare campus.

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