Prime Minister Robert Abela has ruled out a rushed decision on euthanasia reform, warning that it would be a "great disrespect" to the more than 15,000 people who participated in the public consultation.

Speaking to the press, Abela said the government must now analyse each of the submissions carefully, one by one, and that the process will take months.

"We are rushing far too much, and that would be a great disrespect to the 15,000 submissions that came in during the consultation process," he said. "We are talking about a large volume of submissions that need to be analysed thoroughly and individually. This is not a small number, and it's not a process that should be rushed."

The Prime Minister insisted that if the analysis is done too quickly, the process will lack the seriousness it requires. "If we do a fast and rushed analysis, it means we are not giving this consultation the seriousness it deserves."

He said he believes strongly in the value of public consultation, acknowledging that in the past, mistakes were made because such tools were not used properly. "I have recognised in the past that errors could have been avoided if I had made better use of public consultation. Today, I place enormous value on public opinion."

Abela said the government would go through all the submissions to see what can be incorporated and what may need to change. "We will look at them one by one and see what comes out of each one and what can be incorporated. It's a process that will take months."

He added that some points raised may have escaped the government's initial attention, while others might be reconsidered entirely. "There may be points that we missed, or points that we remove after this analysis. The worst thing you can do in a sensitive reform like this is to rush it and ignore what 15,000 people have taken the time to submit."

Asked whether MPs will be given a free vote if euthanasia legislation reaches Parliament, Abela did not commit either way. Instead, he stressed that the current focus is on respecting the consultation and the people who participated in it.

Speaking about end-of-life care, Abela spoke of investments in palliative care. "We must think about people who are going through vulnerable moments. We have to invest in palliative care."

He said Malta has access to a range of innovative medicines for those facing terminal illness and highlighted investment at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre and in hospice services. "We have made multi-million-euro investments in palliative care like never before - in the service, in medicines, in beds - and we must keep strengthening these."

Abela said improvements in care must continue as science and medicine advance. "Like every other service, palliative care improves as science advances. We constantly improve our services and incorporate those advancements."

No specific timeframe has been given for when the findings of the consultation will be published or when the next steps may be announced, but Abela made clear the process will not be rushed.

"The people submitted their views - now it's up to us to respect them by analysing each submission. This is a sensitive process and must be handled seriously."