title: Malta: Health system review.
abstract: This analysis of the Maltese health system reviews the developments in its organization and governance, health financing, health-care provision, health reforms and health system performance. The health system in Malta consists of a public sector, which is free at the point of service and provides a comprehensive basket of health services for all its citizens, and a private sector, which accounts for a third of total health expenditure and provides the majority of primary care. Maltese citizens enjoy one of the highest life expectancies in Europe. Nevertheless, non-communicable diseases pose a major concern with obesity being increasingly prevalent among both adults and children. The health system faces important challenges including a steadily ageing population, which impacts the sustainability of public finances. Other supply constraints stem from financial and infrastructural limitations. Nonetheless, there exists a strong political commitment to ensure the provision of a healthcare system that is accessible, of high quality, safe and also sustainable. This calls for strategic investments to underpin a revision of existing processes whilst shifting the focus of care away from hospital into the community.
authors.affiliation: Ministry for Health, Malta.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azzopardi Muscat
authors.affiliation: Ministry for Health, Malta.
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calleja
authors.affiliation: Ministry for Health, Malta.
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calleja
authors.affiliation: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cylus
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics; D061889:Healthcare Financing; D006801:Humans; D008319:Malta; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration