Prime Minister Robert Abela, accompanied by Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela, visited the operating theatres at Mater Dei Hospital to observe how the government’s “record investment in healthcare” is translating into more operations and improved services for Maltese and Gozitan patients.
During his visit, the Prime Minister met patients scheduled for surgery and spoke with surgeons preparing for their procedures. He also viewed the hospital’s robotic surgical equipment, which has “reduced complication rates and recovery times.” Abela inspected ongoing works to convert the hospital’s administrative building into two new wards with 47 beds.
The government reported a sharp rise in operations over the past year, attributed to investment in robotic surgery and public-private collaboration. Knee replacements increased from 390 in 2024 to 890 in 2025, while endoscopy procedures exceeded 13,000 — nearly 2,400 more than the previous year. Advanced procedures like Capsule Endoscopy now allow internal imaging “without pain or anaesthesia.”
The government invested €14 million last year in outsourcing to private hospitals, cutting waiting times for orthopaedic, hernia, and radiological interventions. Capital investment in health will rise to €107 million in 2026, supporting major projects including a new 300-bed elderly hospital, a mental health facility, and an expanded Emergency Department.
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