Malta (MT)
Malta is a small EU island nation in the central Mediterranean — the smallest EU member state by area — celebrated for its extraordinary concentration of history (the Knights of St John, ancient megalithic temples older than Stonehenge), warm climate of 300+ sunshine days per year, English as a co-official language making it uniquely accessible for anglophone expats, a thriving iGaming and fintech sector, and a strategic location halfway between Europe and North Africa.
Healthcare in Malta
Malta operates a mixed public-private healthcare system. The public system (Entitlement Unit / Mater Dei Hospital) provides free care to all Maltese residents holding a valid eHealth card. Malta has a single major public general hospital — Mater Dei Hospital in Msida — which handles all acute and specialist care. Quality at Mater Dei is generally good for standard treatments but waiting times for non-urgent procedures can be significant. A parallel private sector of clinics and hospitals provides faster access for those who can afford it. The public system is heavily used and can feel overstretched during peak periods.
Mid-tier in EU — Mater Dei Hospital is of reasonable quality but Malta's small healthcare system means some specialist procedures are referred abroad (to Sicily or the UK). Mental health services are less developed than northern European equivalents.
Public healthcare: Malta Public Health Service
Is-Servizz tas-Saħħa Pubbliku ta' Malta
- GP visits at government health centres (completely free)
- Mater Dei Hospital emergency and inpatient care — free
- Specialist outpatient clinics at Mater Dei — free after GP referral
- Maternity care (prenatal, birth, postnatal) — free at Mater Dei
- Childhood vaccinations — free (national immunisation schedule)
- Dental care for children and older adults (reduced-cost government dental clinics)
- Mental health services at Mount Carmel Hospital and community mental health centres
- Subsidised medicines on the government formulary
- Elderly care and day centres
- Adult private dental care — mostly not covered (limited public dental)
- Glasses and contact lenses (except specific medical conditions)
- Cosmetic surgery
- Alternative therapies
- Prescription medicines not on the government formulary (patients pay full price)
- Private room supplements at hospitals
Private healthcare: Private Healthcare — Hospitals and Clinics
Accessing care
Government health centres (centri tas-saħħa) provide free GP services to eHealth card holders. They are located in most major towns. A polyclinic (Mosta Polyclinic, Paola Polyclinic, Floriana Health Centre) provides the most comprehensive public primary care. No appointment necessary for urgent cases; appointment preferred for routine consultations. Private GPs are available throughout Malta for faster, appointment-based consultations (€35–60/visit).
GP at a government health centre provides a referral letter to the relevant outpatient specialist clinic at Mater Dei Hospital. Patients choose their appointment date from available slots at the hospital. Private referrals: GPs can refer to private specialists directly — faster but at cost.
Call 112 for medical emergencies. Malta's only major A&E department is at Mater Dei Hospital, Msida. It handles all acute emergencies. Wait times at A&E for non-urgent cases can be long (2–6 hours). For urgent but non-emergency situations, Mater Dei Urgent Care Centre accepts walk-ins.
Out-of-hours GP service: District Medical Service (DMS) operates nights, weekends, and public holidays. Call your health centre's after-hours number or the national emergency number. Private GPs: some offer out-of-hours via telephone consultation. For serious symptoms, go directly to Mater Dei A&E.
GP prescriptions are written on official forms. Collect from government pharmacies (free formulary drugs) or any licensed private pharmacy (pay full price for non-formulary items). The POYC (Pharmacy of Your Choice) scheme provides free chronic medication at any participating pharmacy with the eHealth card.
Public dental services are very limited — mainly for children and elderly people. Adult dental care is largely private. Private dentists are widely available in all major towns. Cost: €40–80 check-up; €80–200 for fillings; €500–1,200 for crown; €1,000–2,000+ for implants. Some private health insurance policies include dental coverage — check your policy.
Public mental health: Mount Carmel Hospital (national psychiatric hospital) and community mental health teams. Richmond Foundation runs community mental health services. Access via GP referral. Private psychologists/psychiatrists: €60–120/session. Waiting times for public mental health (non-crisis): several weeks to months. The Richmond Foundation Lifeline (1770) provides 24/7 crisis support.
Completely free via the public system at Mater Dei Hospital. Prenatal classes, midwife-led care, delivery, and postnatal support are all free for eHealth card holders. Malta has a relatively high Caesarean rate by EU standards. Private obstetricians: €100–200/consultation. Private delivery at a private clinic: limited options in Malta; Mater Dei handles nearly all births.
Expat-specific advice
- Register at Identità to obtain your eResidence card (EU citizens) or residence permit (non-EU) — this is the prerequisite for the eHealth card.
- Apply for an eHealth card at a government health centre immediately after getting your ID/eResidence card.
- Register with your nearest government health centre for a GP.
- Familiarise yourself with Mater Dei Hospital location (Msida) — the only major A&E in Malta.
- If you have existing chronic conditions, arrange a review with a Maltese doctor early and ensure your formulary medicines are available locally.
- Save the District Medical Service number for out-of-hours non-emergency care.
Pharmacies (Spiżerija (pharmacy))
- Paracetamol / Panadol (€3–6)
- Ibuprofen (€4–8)
- Antihistamines (€5–12)
- Sunscreen (€8–20 — essential in Malta)
- Oral rehydration salts (important for summer heat)
- Vitamin D (not as critical as in northern Europe but still recommended in winter)
- Insect repellent (mosquitoes active in summer)
- Eye drops for dry eyes (AC and Mediterranean dry air cause issues)
Typical costs
| GP visit (with insurance) | €0 (free at government health centre with eHealth card) |
| GP visit (private pay) | €35–60 (private GP) |
| Specialist visit | €0 (via referral, public system) or €60–150 (private specialist) |
| Emergency visit | €0 for residents with eHealth card at Mater Dei A&E |
| MRI scan | €0 via public system (may wait weeks) or €200–400 private |
| Prescription average | €0 (government formulary drugs) or €10–50 (non-formulary, private pharmacy) |
| Dental check-up | €40–80 (private — public dental very limited for adults) |
| Baby delivery | €0 (free at Mater Dei via public system) |
Healthcare
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