President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca has announced that the Malta Community Chest Fund will be transformed into a foundation which not only assists individual patients, but which also contributes to research on diseases.

Ms Coleiro Preca made the announcement whilst addressing medical consultants in London, where she is on an official visit. London is the most common destination for Maltese patients who require treatment overseas

The President asked the consultants, whose work brings them in contact with Maltese patients and which included a number of Maltese nationals, to provide any suggestions they could made to improve the service being provided to Maltese patients.

She thanked them for their dedication and stressed that Maltese patients were very appreciative of the quality of care received.