How does a person access public primary health care in Malta?

The usual first contact is a family doctor or a public Health Centre or Community Clinic. Eligible Maltese citizens, EU citizens and asylum seekers can use public primary care free of charge, while other eligibility situations require confirmation.

Which hospital provides emergency and specialist health care in Malta?

Mater Dei Hospital provides Malta's state acute general emergency, inpatient, outpatient and specialist care. Gozo General Hospital serves Gozo, but some specialist cases require transfer to Mater Dei.

What should someone do during a health emergency in Malta?

Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency. For urgent assessment, the Mater Dei emergency department is open 24 hours a day and triage determines the order of care according to clinical urgency.

How can someone obtain public support for prescribed medicines in Malta?

Check whether the medicine and condition qualify under the Government formulary, Pharmacy of Your Choice, Schedule V or Schedule II schemes. Bring identification, the prescription and any required entitlement document because a prescription alone does not guarantee free dispensing.

Health in Malta

Q: Where can someone obtain mental health crisis support in Malta?

The free national Mental Health Helpline at 1579 provides 24-hour emotional support, advice and crisis guidance. Acute danger requires a call to 112 or attendance at an emergency department.

Malta has a national health system with public primary care, hospitals, screening, medicines and follow-up services. A family doctor or public Health Centre usually handles the first assessment, while Mater Dei Hospital and Gozo General Hospital provide emergency, specialist and inpatient care. Call 112 for life-threatening emergencies and use 1400 for non-emergency nurse-led guidance when eligible.

Tip

Choose the care route by urgency: use 112 for life-threatening danger, 1400 for eligible users with unclear non-emergency symptoms, and a GP or Health Centre for routine care. Keep identification, medical information, prescriptions and entitlement documents ready, especially when using public medicine schemes or moving between Malta and Gozo. Arrange follow-up after hospital care instead of treating discharge as the end of care.

byEmma&Luca

Primary HealthCare provides more than 50 public services through Health Centres and Community Clinics. A family doctor, also called a general practitioner or GP, can assess symptoms, provide treatment, arrange tests and refer the patient to specialist care. Community teams also provide nursing, laboratory services, diabetes care, ECGs, eye care, gynaecology, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech and language therapy, wound care, X-rays and dietary support. Services may use walk-in, appointment or referral routes. Mosta, Floriana and Paola Health Centres operate around the clock; other opening hours vary by location, with some night and weekend care centralised. Telemedicine and client support are available 24 hours a day on 21231231 or 21222444. Public primary care and Community Clinic services are free for Maltese citizens, EU citizens and asylum seekers. EU citizens should carry the E111 document according to Primary HealthCare guidance. Other eligibility situations require case-specific confirmation. Private treatment, insurance and detailed personal charges follow separate rules and are not automatically covered by public services. For unclear but non-emergency symptoms, eligible users can contact 1400 for 24-hour nurse-led guidance. A Health Centre, Mater Dei Hospital, Gozo General Hospital or another facility may be recommended according to the clinical need. Mater Dei Hospital is Malta's only state acute general teaching hospital and provides emergency, inpatient, outpatient and specialist services. Gozo General Hospital is Gozo's only hospital and provides emergency, acute, complex, inpatient, outpatient, psychiatric and long-term care. Patients from Gozo may need transfer to Mater Dei for specialist treatment, with land and air ambulance links available at all times. The emergency department at Mater Dei is open 24 hours a day. Call 112 for a life-threatening emergency. Emergency department staff register and triage patients according to urgency, so arrival by ambulance does not automatically move someone ahead of patients with a higher clinical priority. After assessment, the patient may be admitted, discharged or observed for up to 24 hours before follow-up with a GP, Health Centre or outpatient service. Prevention services include breast, colorectal, cervical and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. The National Immunisation Service follows a schedule for children and young people from birth to age 16, adults aged 65 and over, special groups and travel vaccinations. Other services include school health, well-baby checks at around 8 to 12 weeks, 8 months and 18 months, and antenatal and postnatal care. Mental health care includes Community Mental Health Clinics, Crisis Resolution Home Treatment, Mount Carmel Hospital, CAPES and psychiatric liaison at Mater Dei. The free national Mental Health Helpline at 1579 operates 24 hours a day for emotional support, advice and crisis guidance. Acute danger requires 112 or an emergency department. Mount Carmel Hospital provides inpatient psychiatric care in Malta, while Gozo has psychiatric units. The Government formulary determines which medicines are supplied through public schemes. Pharmacy of Your Choice, known as POYC, dispenses medicines through participating pharmacies. Schedule V, also called the Yellow Card scheme, covers specified chronic conditions; Schedule II, also called the Pink Card scheme, is linked to income-based eligibility. Free dispensing depends on the relevant entitlement and policy, so a prescription alone does not guarantee free medicine. The pharmacy may request identification, the prescription and a Schedule V, Schedule II or POYC document. Hospital Pharmacy provides emergency cover around the clock. After discharge, follow-up may continue with a GP, Health Centre or outpatient clinic. Services can include rehabilitation, allied health care, geriatric care, community outreach, domiciliary nursing, home visits by a GP, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or podiatrist, speech therapy, home help, Carer at Home, respite, Meals on Wheels, dementia activity centres and residential or long-term care. Gozo combines community outreach with transfer pathways when local services cannot provide the required treatment. The Patient's Charter covers access, health protection, information, shared decision-making, informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, dignity, respect, safety and complaints. Patients may accept or refuse treatment and withdraw consent. Correct information about symptoms, medicines and allergies, attendance at appointments and compliance with referral instructions help providers deliver safe care. Complaints can be submitted through Customer Care. With an e-ID, myHealth can show hospital summaries, appointments, past episodes, vaccination records, laboratory results, imaging, and POYC entitlement and dispensing records; some results are released through the linked doctor.