In Budapest, Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela attended the Informal Meeting of Health Ministers, organized by the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Various topics were discussed during this meeting, including cardiovascular diseases, organ transplants, and the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

In his remarks, Minister Abela noted that Malta still has a high rate of cardiovascular disease, accounting for a third of all deaths in the country. He highlighted Malta’s efforts in this area, including the launch of a non-communicable disease prevention framework last month, which aims to develop a National Strategy to address the challenge of cardiovascular diseases among other conditions.

The Minister stressed the need for a European framework with robust guidelines and financial support for promotion and screening initiatives. Dr. Abela mentioned that Malta has worked on several screening campaigns, including the ‘Say No To Stroke’ campaign, which aims to address stroke risk factors early on.

Minister Abela also urged that smaller and peripheral Member States like Malta receive the necessary support in acquiring new and innovative medicines through a joint procurement system.

Speaking on organ transplants, Minister Abela stated, “Malta is ready to actively support and participate in new initiatives and a new action plan on organ transplants.” He explained that Malta’s past participation has positively contributed to the national advancement of organ donation and transplantation. This participation has fostered greater collaboration with other countries, particularly Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. He further explained that such collaboration has led to significant improvements in services, legislation, better training, and the sharing of organs.

“It is essential that the European Union ensures all Member States benefit equally from advances in this field, and solidarity among states is crucial,” concluded Minister Abela.

#MaltaDaily