The government has published a tender for a major expansion project at Mater Dei Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department, with an estimated value of €80 million.

The project aims to tackle long-standing issues such as overcrowding and long wait times, delivering a much-needed upgrade to Malta’s main hospital.

Plans include restructuring the emergency department and Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) layouts, expanding emergency cubicles from 30 to 70, and building 10 acute mental health wards with 136 beds and a therapeutic garden.

The expansion will also introduce new green spaces, a revamped car park for emergency use, and an Enemalta substation.

Initial designs show the department expanding into levels 9 and 10 of the existing car park, while the acute mental health wards will be constructed on levels 11-14. Level 10 will also serve as a dedicated parking area for emergencies, while level 11 will feature outdoor green spaces.

This tender follows Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela’s announcement earlier this year to outsource less critical cases to private hospitals and reduce wait times. The expansion is expected to meet Malta’s healthcare needs for the next 20 years.

The tender closes on 14th Februrary, 2025.

More details about the tender can be found here.

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