Malta has a life expectancy of 80 years, up from 75 years in 1990 and 78 years in 2000. Gains have been primarily due to reduced child and maternal mortality and improved longevity for other age groups, particularly for older people with chronic diseases. Bronchial asthma is a particular health concern in Malta – its high prevalence is partly explained by the hot and humid climate, genetic disposition and high smoking rates. Maltese health professionals also report the problem of non-compliance of asthma patients in taking medication, which sometimes causes failures in asthma control. The Ministry of Health, Elderly and Community Care has introduced policies focused on raising awareness of the health risks associated with smoking, especially among women.
Malta ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003 and the amended Smoking in Public Places Regulation came into force in 2004.
The rate of childhood obesity is one of the highest in the world.
Malta is hyper-endemic for meningococcal diseases, with a marked increase in the period 1994-2000 (World Health Report, 2006).
The death rates for cancer of the pancreas, cervix and ovaries have levelled or increased in Malta, and the current rates remain higher than Eur-A averages (Eur-A is a WHO designation given to 27 European countries ranked with low child mortality and very low adult mortality.) Death rates for breast and uterine cancers are also above average. Ischaemic heart disease is the single biggest killer in Malta, causing 22 per cent of all deaths in 2003. Maltese men and women over 30 have a higher risk of dying from heart disease than the Eur-A average, although these rates are decreasing.
Non-communicable diseases are Malta’s biggest health issue.
Obesity is a preventable factor that contributes to a range of health conditions and is increasingly prevalent among both adults and children. Current policy documents that focus on health promotion and primary prevention include the Non-Communicable Disease Strategy 2010, the National Cancer Plan 2011, the Sexual Health Strategy 2011, the Healthy Weight for Life Strategy 2012, the Tuberculosis Prevention Strategy 2012 and a strategy aimed at addressing the needs of dementia sufferers, together with their families and carers. Most of these strategy documents are targetbased, with impact assessments being prepared. Malta’s accession to the EU in 2004 was instrumental in driving policy on new legislation on health.
Major health reforms in the last decade include the introduction of the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme to provide more equitable access to medicines and and development of a remuneration system for medical consultants that is partially performance-based.
A new Mental Health Act, promoting the rights of mental health patients and encouraging community treatment schemes, came into effect in 2013. A general Health Act was also approved by the Maltese parliament in 2013, creating a modern framework to separate policy from regulation and operations. Its focus on disease prevention and community services has led to the launch of Malta’s first cancer screening programmes.
