Malta Takes The Lead In Health Innovation At Global Commonwealth Summit
In Geneva, the Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, participated in the 37th Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting.
During this meeting, several key topics in the health sector were discussed, including mental health, preventive care and digitalisation.
In his address, Minister Jo Etienne Abela highlighted how Malta is advancing several initiatives that are leading to significant progress in these areas. He emphasised that this aligns with the country’s vision to enhance not only the healthcare sector, but also the overall quality of life for the Maltese and Gozitans.
Minister Abela reiterated Malta’s commitment to the principle of investing in preventive care as a foundation for long-term health. He noted that the country’s approach is grounded in predictive, precise and personalised medicine, which enables timely, effective and tailored treatment for each citizen. He also mentioned strengthened collaboration between the Government and the private sector to address prevention, emergencies and waiting lists.
Regarding mental healthcare, the Minister noted that Malta has recently signed an agreement to introduce mental health first aid courses within the community. He stressed that this initiative will help further reduce stigma, increase resilience and encourage more individuals to come forward when facing challenges.
“In Malta, we are ensuring that primary and secondary care go hand in hand to provide a coordinated response to heart disease, obesity and stroke,” Minister Abela stated, on the issue of chronic illness.
He went on to explain that in relation to obesity, a One-Stop Clinic is being developed to offer nutritional advice, as well as pharmaceutical and surgical support, through multidisciplinary care pathways. He noted that this year, a significant investment has been made in GLP-1 agonists and bariatric surgery, as part of an integrated strategy for obesity management.
On digital health and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Minister Abela reaffirmed Malta’s investment in digital health tools and AI to enhance diagnostics, simplify service delivery and support decision-making in both primary and specialised care. He stated that these technologies will also strengthen public health surveillance and patient engagement.