Following agreement between the Health Authorities, the Commissioner Commissioner for gender-based violence and domestic violence and the police, victims of domestic violence will be given priority when being accompanied by police to be examined by medical professionals at health centres or Mater Dei Hospital, the government said.

Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela said that it is only right for people suffering physical and mental injuries caused by domestic violence to receive attention and care. He urged workers to always support them, and he thanked workers for their sensitivity.

Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg said that this is an important development, adding that domestic violence victims accompanied by the police will be treated with more sensitivity and more efficiency.

She spoke about the importance that the treatment and care, and that medical certificates showing the results of aggression victims would have suffered be issued as quickly as possible as they serve as evidence in court proceedings.

The government said that over a period of four months, on average there would be around 30 cases in which the victims would need to be taken to a health centre or Mater Dei for examination.