The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Ian Borg, recently visited the Karl Vella Foundation in Burmarrad to tour the facility and discuss potential new healthcare developments. The central focus of the meeting was the possibility of establishing specialized pediatric palliative care services in the community, alongside the long-term vision of creating a dedicated children's hospice in Malta.

During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister met with the foundation's leadership and professionals to witness firsthand the critical work carried out for children and families facing serious illness or loss. This dialogue builds directly upon ongoing discussions between the foundation and the Ministry for Health.

Established in 2014, the Karl Vella Foundation provides free psychological support, individual and group therapy, educational assistance, and creative activities designed to help children and adolescents process their emotions. The organization also extends its psychotherapeutic services to patients receiving treatment abroad, their caregivers, and their families, currently supporting over 400 individuals.

Expressing his appreciation for the initiative, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that he was glad to witness the valuable impact of the foundation's essential services. He added that he looks forward to collaborating further to turn these new project ideas into reality.

Claire Chircop, Director and Co-Founder of the foundation, welcomed the visit and emphasized the importance of expanding services for children requiring palliative care-a specialized service currently unavailable locally.

The foundation is named in honour of Karl Vella, a photographer and Mater Dei Hospital worker who passed away from cancer on February 16, 2014, at the age of 37, remembered for his exceptional courage and support for fellow patients. The Ministry for Health and the foundation will continue exploring proposals to develop these vital services in line with the needs of patients and their families.