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Malta : Malta recognises the fundamental importance of universal access to health care
Publish Date : 24-May-2018
While addressing the 71st World Health Assembly, in Geneva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne said that Malta recognises the fundamental importance of universal access to health care and provides an accessible health care system offering a comprehensive set of services that are free at the point of use for all.
The recently launched national strategies addressing Hepatitis C and transgender healthcare are examples of the Maltese Governments commitment to profoundly improve the quality of life of previously marginalised groups within society. As a step to leaving no one behind, Malta has enacted a number of legislative changes and policy developments with regard to LGBTIQ individuals, including the introduction of transgender health services. We are also in the process of expanding the provision of IVF services to same sex couples and individuals.
Chris Fearne spoke about the leadership role Malta had in the field of health, during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2017 prioritising childhood obesity, and structured cooperation to enhance access to highly specialized and innovative services, medicines and technologies. This lead to the Valletta Declaration, in conjunction with 8 other EU Member States, an important development in the joint negotiation and procurement of innovative medicines for European citizens.
Aware that achieving Universal Health Care requires innovation, we look towards opportunities to tackle the diverse health challenges that face us. Developments in the area of digital health are providing tools for better prevention, self-care and health service delivery processes. The advent of Distributed Ledger Technology the Blockchain coupled with the use of electronic patient records will allow the empowerment of individual patients and has the potential to change the way we provide healthcare in a radical way. Malta is at the forefront of Blockchain technology and sees this as a great opportunity to bring innovation into the health sector.
Speaking on mass migration, Fearne said that this poses a healthcare challenge, and called on the WHO to keep migration issues high on its agenda. As a country where gender equality is high on the political agenda, Malta commends the gender equality and balance in the appointment of the WHO senior leadership team. While looking for a WHO which is ready to tackle the challenges posed by the changing global health landscape in an effective, efficient, responsive and transparent manner, Malta continues to support and participate constructively in the reform of the organization, and supports the Director General in continuing to strengthen WHOs leadership in global health, concluded Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne.
