Malta’s healthcare system is under significant strain, with growing demands stretching current infrastructure to its limits, the Nationalist Party said in a statement.

According to the PN, the current situation reflects a system that requires urgent attention and investment to meet the needs of a rising population.

During a recent press conference, Shadow Health Minister Adrian Delia, Shadow Minister for Social Policy Stephen Spiteri, and Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Mental Health Ian Vassallo voiced concern over increasing pressures at Mater Dei Hospital.

They cited figures showing a record 104,886 hospital admissions in 2024 — a 57% increase from 2008, when admissions stood at 66,742.

Over the same period, Malta’s population grew by approximately 140,000 people.

The PN representatives noted that this population growth has had a direct impact on health services, with reports of patients being treated in hospital corridors and other unsuitable areas due to space limitations.

According to the PN, the lack of long-term planning has contributed to the current situation, while previous promises — including a new mental health hospital and regional health centres — remain unfulfilled.

The PN also drew attention to non-operational facilities such as the Vincent Moran Centre and other partially closed health centres in Rabat and Floriana.

In Gozo, the timeline for a new hospital has reportedly been extended by another nine years.

In response, the PN outlined a series of healthcare proposals aimed at easing current pressures and modernising the system. These include:

Investment in St Luke’s Hospital to expand bed capacity
Fully operational health centres, with new hubs in both the north and south
A new general hospital for Gozo
Greater focus on primary care to reduce hospital overload
Responsible public-private partnerships
Improved access to essential medicines and modern equipment
Enhanced working conditions for medical professionals
Dedicated investment in mental health, including a new specialist facility
Free GP services for the elderly and pensioners
Wider availability of cancer medication through government channels
Expanded palliative care and walk-in cancer clinics
Investment in innovative treatment options

The PN stated that its healthcare proposals are rooted in a patient-first philosophy, calling for a more responsive and well-resourced public health system.

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