Opposition Leader welcomes investment, pledge to support private healthcare during courtesy visit.
St Thomas Hospital on Thursday announced its Emergency Department will now be operational 24/7, as the Opposition pledged to work with the private sector to help bolster the country’s critical healthcare infrastructure.
St Thomas Hospital Director Louis Buhagiar said the new department represents an investment of more than €200,000 in state-of-the-art equipment as well as leading talent, offering patients best-in-class trauma and emergency care treatment.
The investment comes after the government earlier this year introduced a system to outsource non-critical emergency care to private hospitals in a bid to ease pressure on the national healthcare system and also offer patients access to leading facilities across the island.
During a courtesy visit on Thursday morning, Opposition Leader Alex Borg said a PN government would work closely with the private healthcare sector, saying a Nationalist administration would explore a broad range of public private partnerships.
He said a PN government would also consider allocating a portion of taxpayers’ National Insurance contributions to a form of private health insurance, to ensure citizens have access to private hospitals if and when the need should arise.
Dr Buhagair, a consultant physician with more than four decades of clinical experience, welcomed both the Minister and Opposition leaders’ remarks, saying the hospital was continuing to invest and would be expanding further in the coming months.
The new St Thomas Hospital Emergency Department is fully licensed by the Healthcare Standards Directorate and staffed by a roster of five leading trauma specialist orthopedic surgeons.
“Our dedicated Emergency Department ensures we’re fully equipped to meet this demand, both in terms of personnel and infrastructure, easing the burden on our State healthcare infrastructure and providing best-in-class service to any patients,” said St Thomas Hospital Medical Director Kristen Buhagiar, herself also a medical doctor.
“In recent years we have seen a steady increase in trauma-related injuries such as fractures, dislocations, and orthopedic emergencies that require immediate attention,” she said.
The hospital has committed dedicated operating theatre time and a substantial inventory of orthopedic implants and specialised surgical tools exclusively for trauma cases.
These include implants sourced through partnerships with international suppliers whose premium-grade products have not previously been available in Malta.
All implants used in the department are manufactured from lightweight titanium—an advanced material that is lightweight, exceptionally strong, hypoallergenic, and fully compatible with MRI imaging. These implants represent a step forward in patient safety, comfort, and recovery outcomes.
The hospital’s team has worked closely with trauma surgeons to develop a comprehensive set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) tailored specifically to trauma and emergency care.
These cover a wide range of injuries including fractures to the wrist, shoulder, elbow, ankle, and foot—ensuring that patients receive rapid, evidence-based care from arrival through recovery.
“Our goal is not just to treat trauma, but to raise the standard of how it’s delivered,” said Dr Buhagiar.
“From world-class implants to specialised surgical protocols, every detail has been designed to provide fast, high-quality care when it’s needed most.”
St Thomas Hospital has been at the forefront of medical innovation and patient care, since it first opened its doors 10 years ago.
Known for its state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated team of world-class medical professionals, the hospital offers a comprehensive range of services designed to meet the evolving needs of patients.
The launch of the 24/7 Emergency Department reflects St Thomas Hospital’s broader strategy of investing in services that meet Malta’s evolving healthcare needs—combining clinical excellence with advanced technology to deliver better patient outcomes.
For more information visit St Thomas Hospital.
