Emergency services collaboration between government and private sector launched

The initiative between the government and the private sector for the treatment of patients with uncomplicated emergencies has been launched, the Ministry for Health stated on Thursday.

The Ministry said that the collaboration for the outsourcing of emergency services has been launched between the government and three private hospitals. The names of the hospitals were not mentioned.

Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela remarked that two successful surgical interventions have already been carried out in one of the hospitals on the first day of the collaboration.

Minister Abela said that through this collaboration, patients with medical and surgical diagnoses will be served by private hospitals while the government pays. He continued that this initiative will complement the services provided by Mater Dei Hospital, and added that patients with uncomplicated conditions will be provided the necessary services, including operations, in the private sector.

He commented that this is the first phase of the agreement, with the direction of the transfers being managed by the Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital. He continued that the second phase of the agreement will come into effect later with the launch of a new system of referrals for various emergency services in Malta.

The Minister concluded by saying that this new collaborative system between the government and the private sector "should increase the efficiency of emergency services while offering care of excellence".