€3 Million Digital Pathology Breakthrough Set To Transform Cancer Diagnosis In Malta
During a press conference held at the Public Service Expo Village 2025, the completion of a project in digital cellular pathology was announced. This milestone was achieved through an investment of €3 million, 80% of which was funded by the European Union.
The Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, explained that the project aims to fully digitise the workflow within the Department of Cellular Pathology. This transition will allow pathologists to move from traditional microscopes to a digital environment for the reporting of cancer cases. He emphasised that one of the main roles of the Department is to provide cancer diagnoses and offer vital information to doctors and oncologists regarding the best treatment strategies for oncology patients.
“The move to digital within the Department of Cellular Pathology marks a historic moment. Through this investment, the Department will deliver much greater precision and offer more specialised, patient-focused care,” Minister Abela stated.
He added that this investment also contributes to sustainability by promoting a paperless work environment and enabling telepathology, thereby significantly reducing the environmental impact. He also highlighted the IT and networking infrastructure upgrades at the hospital and within the cellular pathology department, which have been modernised to handle high volumes of data transfer. Additionally, existing equipment is now being used more efficiently to store pathological images in digital format.
“Today marks a major step forward in digitalisation, in line with the Malta 2050 Vision. This investment not only supports our specialists but also enhances the quality of care we provide to Maltese and Gozitan patients,” the Minister concluded.
Dr Christopher Barbara, Clinical Chairman of Pathology at Mater Dei Hospital, welcomed this digital transition with satisfaction. “The pathologist will now view cells using high-definition monitors and results will be delivered more swiftly. Immunohistochemistry is also being used to test specific receptors, which enables personalised treatment for patients with a higher chance of recovery,” Dr Barbara explained.