https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27156 2026-04-15T20:15:28Z 2026-04-15T20:15:28Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27291 2018-02-24T02:37:33Z 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The relationship between state and private primary care Abstract: In Malta there is no uniform Healthcare system. There are government services divided primarily in State hospitals and health centres in the community; and there are private doctors - from primary to tertiary level. Although the system works somehow, it is by no means perfect and is confusing to the person trying to make use of both. Government doctors have on their contracts that they may work privately - this is one reason why many believe salaries have been kept quite low. Those who opt to work only in the private sector have a choice of making use of government services or using only private institutions for investigations etc. In primary care, it is impossible to always refer people privately for tests and speCialist consultations. The private General Practitioner thus usually discusses with the patient whether she wishes to be investigated at hospital or privately and explains the pros and t:;ons of each. Invariably, many opt to be referred to hospital for further investigations. Since medical insurance is still in its infancy in Malta, and since they by no means gives comprehensive unlimited coverage to the insured, many who have tests done privately pay for them personally. In this respect the health centres have offered a number of tests which the GP may avail herself of and which will thus save the patient some money.

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27290 2018-02-24T02:37:24Z 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Celebrating teamwork in healthcare Abstract: The main objective of the local conference on A National Agenda for Sustainable Health Care organized in February 2000 by The Foundation for Medical Services and The Forum of Health Professionals was to discuss the future of health care in Malta. Keynote speakers participating in this conference referred several times to the need of partnership or teamwork in today's healthcare system. Many claimed that interdisciplinary collaboration is becoming increasingly important because of the current complexity and cost of health care. The workshops' reports presented at the concluding plenary session of this conference are replete with statements that reflect the participants' concern for the lack of an interdisciplinary approach in our local health care system.

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27289 2018-02-24T02:38:00Z 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Health care and the legal profession Abstract: The medical practitioner today is faced with a myriad of laws and regulations which aim at bringing health issues within their scope and effect. For the most part, such laws cannot be interpreted in a vacuum but, rather, must respect and reflect the guiding principles of medical ethics. Thus, the rights of a Doctor are qualified by the rights of his patient. These rights are not antagonistic but complementary in, for example, the principles of professional secrecy, of access to recent medical technology and treatment, or the freedom to exercise one's profession. From another perspective, the medical practitioner owes his patient a duty of care and a breach of this duty renders the practitioner liable to damages. A medical practitioner may (invariably) have contact with the law or legal institutions not only in the observance of rules and regulations affecting his practice, but also in the role of court expert, witness, or defendant.

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27288 2021-04-05T17:02:30Z 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The relationship between private and state health care Abstract: At present there appears to be a big divide between State Medicine and Private Medicine both at Primary Care Level, for instance in the relationship between the General Practitioner and the Health Centres, as well as in the relationship between Private Hospitals and State Hospitals. The divide between the State hospitals and private hospitals is so wide that one could well say that at present little co-operation exists between State and private hospitals. This lack of collaboration between the two sectors renders both State and private systems inefficient. It is detrimental to the patient, and ultimately costs the country money we can ill afford to waste.

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z