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18th November 2022

Malta aims for paperless records in elderly care by end-2024, Minister Abela says

Malta is aiming to drive digitalisation in its elderly care homes and wants patient records to become paperless by the end of 2024, Minister for Active Ageing Hon. Dr Jo Etienne Abela said in a keynote speech at Med-Tech World.

Abela said that a few months ago a dashboard system had been introduced for medical records at the country’s largest care home facility, which caters for about 1,500 patients. This will be further rolled out across all of Malta’s elderly facilities.

Out of a population of 516,000, around 129,000 are over the age of 60, making improvements in elderly care a key point of focus for the government. 

Focusing on innovation

Abela, who is also a pancreatic surgeon and a teacher at the University of Malta, said throughout his career he had tried to introduce innovation, despite the difficulties that sometimes entails, such as logistics and financing. 

Abela also spoke about the work of the Malta Medicines Authority and its efforts to build international ties. Since 2014, the MMA has processed more than 500 procedures for European partners.

The MMA is also one of a handful of international authorities, which is officially affiliated with the U.S. Federal Drug Administration. Its work with other countries include Japan, Canada, the UAE and India among others.

Abela, speaking on the closing day of Med-Tech World, said the MMA is also working to further its ties with India, not only with its portfolio of pharmaceuticals, but also in the field of medical devices, which is another area of MMA focus. 

“As a surgeon, I’m definitely going to push our medicines authority into the field of medical devices, we are very interested in that,” he said. 

Wrapping up his speech, Abela said that he sees a bright future, despite the current economic uncertainties affecting Europe. 

Hon. Jo Etienne Abela: Who’s Who?

Dr Jo Etienne Abela studied medicine and surgery at the University of Malta between 1993 and 1999 where he later worked as a medical doctor at St Luke’s Hospital. He moved to Scotland in 2003 to further his studies. During his stay in Glasgow he became a consultant of surgery where he was the youngest surgeon in the whole country. He then specialized on the oesophagus and the pancreas. He returned to Malta in 2012 and a year later began working at Mater Dei Hospital, Gozo Hospital and also as a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta. He contested the General Election of March 2022 on the 10th and 13th electoral districts and after being elected, was appointed Minister for Active Ageing in the Government led by Prime Minister Robert Abela.

Med-Tech World Europe is back bolder than ever!

2022 has been a bustling year. Following major success in Dubai, Toronto and Belgrade, Malta Week has returned to rock the island awake from its Autumn-blues stupor. KOL-led conferences, luxurious nightly festivities and a gripping pitch competition, Malta Week is the location to be for the latest developments from the digital health and Medtech industries. Benefit from all this and premium networking opportunities by hopping onto the bandwagon and getting your ticket now!

The Med-Tech World Europe Summit is taking place on the 17th and 18th of November at the Hilton Hotel, Saint Julians, Malta.