Prime Minister Robert Abela said Saturday Malta has taken positive steps forward in the treatment of patients with heart disease, but there needs to be continued support and investment not only in medical infrastructure, but also in the continuous training of health professionals to take care of patients who require medical interventions from the Department of Cardiology.”

Abela was addressing a conference organized by the Maltese Heart Society, which featured an array of health professional in attendance, including some internationally renowned surgeons.

Opening the conference, PM Abela mentioned the investments undertaken towards a number of innovations within the Department of Cardiology that have been financed for the common good through top level care for patients.

In this regard, he remarked how through investments in cardiology theatres, 3,400 patients received quality care. Additionally, he highlighted that last year, approximately 120 people underwent cardiological interventions in their heart valves without the need for more invasive intervention in the vital human organ. Other interventions at Mater Dei hospital meant that Maltese patients did not need to be sent abroad to receive treatment.

In this context, the Prime Minister defined health professionals as crucially important links in saving lives on a daily basis; he thus thanked them for their dedicated work. Abela continued to discuss their important role – paired with investments in more modern technology – to effectively address complex situations and contribute to the country’s mortality rate for people with heart disease reducing by 50%.

Abela said that these statistics should continue improving for the sake of Maltese health, therefore, he spoke in favour of the continuous training of professionals, including nurses and health workers working in the field. He also referenced the “historic” signed collective agreement that is guaranteeing better working conditions for these professionals.

“We will continue to invest in what provides quality of life and which people and communities enjoy, not least within the health sector that is so important for everyone”, PM Abela said.

He also discussed other strategic decisions within this field that contribute to better quality of life and general health, such as investment in favour of open spaces and educational campaigns against obesity that are being done through a holistic spirit and are all contributing to the prevention of heart disease, in his own words.