The Active Ageing Ministry has launched a public consultation to introduce voluntary Assisted Tracking Devices for vulnerable people such as dementia patients.

This was announced during a press conference by Minister Jo Etienne Abela, who said that although a mobile phone could also act as a tracking device this can be turned off and it may be difficult to operate at times.

Therefore, the Ministry has plans to introduce other devices that would help keep track of these vulnerable patients and also have other telemedicine functions such as recording vital parameters.

Abela said that the purpose of this public consultation is to gather the opinion of individuals, their families and professionals who work in this sector. He added that there are many countries that have introduced this device including the United Kingdom, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, Switzerland, America and Slovakia. In fact, he said that the Slovak government has actually invited Malta to visit Slovakia to see how this device is being used.

Abela noted concerns about privacy, ethics and digital security that may be raised with the introduction of this device, however, he believed that the benefits of this system should not be dismissed.

Anyone can give their input on this proposal on the website publicconsultation.gov.mt until 15 July.