Prime Minister Robert Abela on Monday unveiled a broad package of health-related electoral pledges aimed at expanding preventive care, strengthening Mater Dei Hospital, widening IVF access, and investing further in mental health and elderly care.

Speaking as part of the Labour Party's electoral campaign, Abela said the government's goal was for Malta to retain the highest healthy life expectancy in Europe while beginning to reduce obesity rates.

A central focus of the announcements was cancer prevention and screening. The government pledged to lower the eligible age for breast cancer screening and bowel cancer blood tests to people aged 45 and over. New screening programmes for lung cancer in high-risk individuals and prostate cancer in men aged 55 will also be introduced, alongside screening measures for people with a family history of pancreatic cancer.

Abela said the government also wanted to eradicate cervical cancer through expanded prevention measures. Self-screening swab tests will be distributed, while the HPV vaccine will be offered to all women under the age of 35 and access widened for men.

Sir Paul Boffa Hospital will be transformed into a national screening centre under the plans. The site will also host the Floriana health centre and an all-day vaccination hub.

The Prime Minister also announced further investment in oncology services, including additional equipment at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre and a second PET-CT scanner at Mater Dei Hospital after the first was introduced recently.

On cancer medication, Abela said the government had already begun the process of assuming responsibility for medicines previously funded through the Community Chest Fund. He noted that means testing had already been removed.

In primary healthcare, the health centres in Qormi, Gżira and Rabat in Gozo will begin operating around the clock. Work is also set to begin on a new multi-modality clinic in Qawra offering radiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and mental health and sexual health services.

The government also pledged to extend diabetes-related services. Continuous glucose monitors will start being provided to patients with type-2 diabetes after similar support had already been introduced for patients with type-1 diabetes, gestational diabetes and patients who developed diabetes following pancreas removal surgery. Insulin pumps will also be extended to more patients.

On IVF, Abela said the government intended to strengthen existing legislation and increase the number of free IVF cycles from three to five. Fertility testing will also be offered free of charge to men and women aged between 18 and 25, while couples will be able to access free genetic compatibility testing before having children.

The Prime Minister also announced that the government would expand the list of orphan drugs available for rare diseases through the state formulary.

Several pledges focused on relieving pressure on Mater Dei Hospital. Abela said the 1400 helpline had already assisted 30,000 people and helped avoid 15,000 admissions at the hospital's emergency department by directing patients towards primary care or private services where appropriate.

He said preparatory works had been completed for the expansion of the emergency department, with the tender already awarded. The intensive care unit will also be enlarged and 150 additional beds added at Mater Dei.

The relocation of outpatient services outside the hospital will meanwhile pave the way for a new Mother and Child Unit, incorporating paediatric operating theatres, a larger neonatal and paediatric intensive care unit, delivery suites and antenatal clinics.

In mental health, the government pledged to strengthen the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment service by making it available 24 hours a day and increasing staffing levels.

Measures targeting elderly care were also announced. The government plans to expand the Day Hospital service through new clinics, a blood-testing laboratory and a renal dialysis ward.

Abela said a tender had already been issued for the construction of a new 300-bed intermediate care hospital at San Vinċenz de Paul Residence aimed at supporting patient recovery and easing pressure on Mater Dei Hospital.

A new Medical Investigation and Treatment Unit will also be opened at the residence to provide certain chemotherapy services in collaboration with the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre.

Abela said the health sector formed part of the government's broader wellbeing strategy, which aims to improve national wellbeing levels by 25%.