Finance Minister Clyde Caruana announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at strengthening education, healthcare, and social wellbeing, with a particular focus on youth development, innovation, and inclusivity.

Stipends to increase by 15%

Caruana said that stipends for students will increase by 15%, meaning €6 million more in financial support to young people.

The free 6-month gym membership scheme, previously limited to certain age groups, will be relaunched for youths aged 16 to 21 who have not yet benefited this year.

Caruana said that investment in education will continue to grow, with over €13 million planned in 2025 to refurbish colleges, strengthen school buildings, and create modern and inclusive learning spaces.

Caruana said that the National Curriculum Framework is being revised in partnership with the OECD, emphasizing literacy, numeracy, digital competencies, and transversal skills, supported by over €1 million in funding.

Digital education is also a priority, as Caruana said that in 2025, around 20,000 digital devices will have been distributed to students in Years 4, 7, 8, and 9, ensuring equal access to technology.

He announced that families with students in Years 10 and 11 will receive a €500 grant to strengthen digital learning, in line with the Digital Education Strategy.

Caruana said that STEM education is expanding rapidly, with MCAST reporting a 48% increase in graduates between 2022 and 2024, including a 96% increase among women, and by 2025, nearly half of students at MQF Levels A to 4 would have been enrolled in STEM subjects.

Healthcare and new services

Caruana said that plans for Mater Dei Hospital include expanding its Neonatal and Paediatric Units and add a second Obstetric Theatre to meet rising demand due to free IVF treatment.

Caruana continued that an advanced cryopreservation facility will be introduced to complement the expansion of the IVF programme.

He said that the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre will open a day ward dedicated to haematology, replacing the current fleet of linear accelerators, and introduce a Fast-Track Online Referral System for suspected gynaecological cancers.

Caruana said that capital projects in the health sector for 2026 include a new Centre for Blood, Plasma, Platelet, and Stem Cell Collection, which will be physically linked to the new Establishment for Blood, Tissues and Cells (EBTC) currently being built.

Caruana said that the gradual transformation of St Luke's Hospital into a Health Care Village will also continue in 2026, with work advancing on the first main block that will serve as a one-stop outpatient service.

He continued that plans for the relocation of Karin Grech Hospital to a temporary facility will help the full completion of this ambitious project.

The Finance Minister said that access to free medicines will expand in 2026, with new cancer treatments to be added to the government formulary.

Caruana also announced a significant extension in the eligibility for the Pink Card scheme - from 75 to 65 years of age, where individuals aged 65 and over who receive the Supplementary Allowance will automatically and freely qualify for prescription medicines under the Pink Card scheme, without having to undergo a means test.

From 2026, government will introduce new services, including a Coeliac Bank Transfer System, replacing vouchers with direct bank payments (€85 per month), the opening of a Pharmacy at St Luke's Hospital to ease pressure on Mater Dei, and an Obesity Clinic providing multidisciplinary care for patients, including personalised care plans, long-term weight management, and specialised services for diabetes and bariatric surgery.

Mental health and community care

In 2026, three new Regional Mental Health Centres will open in Bormla, the Central and Northern regions of Malta, offering improved access, multidisciplinary care, and services closer to home and workplaces.

Caruana said that a new social centre will also be opened for patients using services at Mount Carmel Hospital.

He also said that health services will continue to improve, with the extension of opening hours at the Qormi and Gżira Health Centres, which will begin operating 24 hours a day, and the Rabat Health Centre in Gozo will operate until midnight, improving service accessibility.

Caruana said that public awareness campaigns will also be launched to promote nutrition, digital wellbeing, chronic disease prevention, mental health in the workplace, and healthcare accessibility.

Research, innovation, and youth wellbeing

Caruana said that significant investments will be made in research and innovation. He said that the Cancer Research and Innovation Hub Malta (CRIHM) will receive over €3.3 million to fund innovative oncology projects and support young researchers.

Caruana said that in 2026, Xjenza Malta will launch a €1.5 million per year Transdisciplinary Research Programme linking academia, industry, public services, and civil society.

Additionally, Caruana said that an additional €7 million expenditure over seven years will fund European partnerships focusing on resilient cultural heritage and mental health.

Caruana said that the government will continue to prioritize young people through programmes like LIFEHACK, offering accredited courses on personal finance and digital wellbeing, and through Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, which is conducting a national study on youth wellbeing to guide evidence-based policy decisions.