Health economics in Malta

Malta has a number of free services offered by the health care services, the government also allows free initial treatment (accident and emergency) for the island, a free consultation and a free family Doctor. However, the working populating pays taxes and SOME Maltese people believe the funds are not being used to cater for the needs of the population i.e. health promotion, community services, elderly care, better provisions for a long term care. As a whole the public tend to abuse the health care system because they believe they pay taxes therefore they can choose to call an ambulance as many times as they want or book to see their Doctors whenever they choose etc. Due too these current problems on the Island, the health care system both heirachial and structural which has an effect the nursing process as it can not function as well as it should and influencing continuity of care and support for the patient. Although there is motivation amongst nurses despite lack of statistics and finance there is as the lack of trust in the nursing profession as the health care system is medically dominated by Doctors there is hope that the social economical conditions will imrpove.

Malta has a high increase of ageing population which is not supported by the socio economical conditions, in April 2011 the times of Malta newspaper identified Malta as the only EU country that does have the treatment for osteoporosis, it is said to cost 15euro - 45euro per month. However, if the government brought the treatment in bulk it will cost far less putting a less strain on pensioners who suffer from the disease and saving the tax payer 9,500 euro from a fracture. For further reading go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110424/local/Malta-only-EU-country-with-no-free-osteoporosis-treatment.362031