Minister for Health Chris Fearne today announced that he has signed an agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in order to obtain ‘tehcnical’ help for the Ministry’s ten year plan for the Maltese mental health sector.
“We have a lot to improve,” he said, addressing those gathered for the launch of a WHO collaboration centre as part of the Department of Clinical Phamarcology and Therepeutics. “We need to have a national holistic plan for the next 10 years.”
In comments to The Malta Independent following the announcement, Fearne said that besides the refurbishment of Mount Carmel Hospital and the new mental health section within Mater Dei Hospital, much attention must be given to the community aspect of mental health.
The need for focus on community mental health care was emphasised by the Maltese Association of Psychiatry in an interview with this newspaper last Monday.
The association called Malta’s type health care an ‘antiquated one’, and said that they will “never move out of Mount Carmel Hospital if (they) don’t have additional budgets for the community.”
The 10-year plan for the mental health sector, which has previously been mentioned by Fearne, is also being put together in collaboration with Barts School of Medicine.
WHO collaboration centre launched at University of Malta
A WHO Collaboration centre has also been launched in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therepeutics at the University of Malta.
Speaking at the event, Professor Maria Cordina said that the centre will offer technical assistance, improve health literacy amongsy health care professionals, enhance patient safety and participate in WHO meetings and disseminate WHO policies and documents.
University of Malta rector Alfred Vella remarked “we are setting standards with regards to how to create education of excellence.” “I hope will have be beneficial not only to us but also those countries who collaborate with us.”
Fearne stated that this move “puts Malta on the medical map,” making the centre the second of its kind in a span of two years. “The faculty is setting standards on how students should be taught,” he said.