Structured healthcare

Abstract

It is with pleasure but also with great concern that I write this editorial for an issue that has a major focus on issues of relevance and importance to primary health care and therefore healthcare and health service provision in Malta. Our guest editorial by Dr Jürgen Abela focuses on the problems confronting both the academic and the practice aspects of family medicine in Malta. The roles of the various stakeholders are highlighted as is the dearth of support for advancement in this area. There have been a number of publications analysing various aspects of these problems, one of which is published in this issue and looks at the demoralisation experienced by those working in primary health care over the years. It is indeed a shame to bear witness to this process given the enormous contribution primary health care, whether within the framework of the NHS or on a private basis, can make to the quality of care and indeed the quality of life of our patients. Their well-being is after all the raison d'etre of our profession. Whilst we struggle with the resolution of these basic issues, other health services, for example in the UK, traditionally a role model for Malta, have made significant advances and are looking intently at the use of GP databases for research purposes and to help in planning and implementing the health services of the future from a public health aspect. An article by Professor Nigel Mathers in this issue deals precisely with this topic.