Malta

Accessing care

You can obtain medically necessary treatment by presenting the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), when you are temporarily staying in Malta. Medically necessary treatment refers to treatment that cannot wait for your return home. You may need such treatment in case of acute illness or accident. You can also receive treatment related to pregnancy and childbirth or to a chronic illness. The need for treatment must emerge during the course of your stay. If your illness requires regular treatment while you are temporarily staying abroad, contact the health care provider abroad in advance and agree on arranging the treatment. Treatments that need to be arranged in advance include, for example, dialysis, oxygen therapy, specialised care of asthma and chemotherapy as well as echocardiography in chronic autoimmune diseases.

You will receive treatment on the same terms and at the same price as the locals by presenting your European Health Insurance Card. It is advisable to carry copies of your European Health Insurance Card with you, along with the card itself. If you didn’t have your EHIC with you or it was not accepted, and you were required to pay all the costs of treatment yourself, you might be able to apply for reimbursement from Kela retrospectively.

In Malta, you can use public health services in health centres and hospitals. By presenting your European Health Insurance Card, you can obtain necessary medical care usually free of charge. Information about services as well contact information can be obtained from the Maltese Ministry for Health.

There are a large number of private health services available. These operate separately from the public sector. You pay the full cost of treatment yourself when you use private health services.

Sudden illness

Doctor

You can obtain treatment from a doctor by going directly to a Government Health Centre. There are nine public health centres in Malta. You can find their contact information on the Ministry for Health website. When you show your European Health Insurance Card and ID, treatment is free of charge. Be aware that you must present the original document – a paper copy of the card is not sufficient. If you do not have a European Health Insurance Card with you, you must pay the full price for a doctor´s appointment. It must be paid (in cash or by credit card) before leaving the premises.

Dentist

Emergency dental treatment is provided free of charge at Mater Dei Hospital in Msida and the health centres. Treatment is available, however, only on limited basis. Most dental care in Malta is provided in the private sector.

Medication

Prescription medicines prescribed by a doctor are non-reimbursable. The only exception to this is medication prescribed in a hospital, which is free during inpatient treatment, and for the first three days after you are discharged. In other situations, you will have to pay the costs of medicines yourself.

Hospital treatment

Treatment is free in public hospitals when you show your European Health Insurance Card and ID. Treatment provided by hospitals in an emergency is free of charge too. In general, you can receive hospital treatment if you have a doctor´s referral.

In the event of an emergency, transport by ambulance to the hospital is covered by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Read more about suddenly falling ill in Europe.

Read more about reimbursement of costs of treatment abroad.

Useful websites

If you want to travel to Malta to use healthcare services there, you should read our website for general information about seeking treatment abroad. You should direct your questions about healthcare in Malta to the Maltese National Contact Point.

Quality and safety of treatment

In the event of treatment injuries, the legislation and patient insurance of the country providing the treatment is always applied. In case you are unhappy with the treatment you received, you should primarily try to sort the matter out with the treatment provider. The national contact point can help you with finding the right authority if you wish to make a complaint.

Healthcare system

Healthcare in Malta is divided into public and private sectors. The Ministry for Health oversees public healthcare and regulates private healthcare services in Malta. Public healthcare is funded through general taxation. The state fund covers most medical services such as treatment by general practitioners and specialists, hospitalisation, medicines, pregnancy, childbirth and rehabilitation.