Malta has a high level of healthcare effectiveness, ranking 18th in the world. Due to sufficient governmental funding, citizens and EU nationals get treatment in state hospitals for free.
You will find the key information to prepare for a safe trip, medical tourism or relocation to Malta in this article.
Despite the country’s relatively small size, Malta’s healthcare system is trustworthy and has proven its effectiveness. Malta was ranked 18th among 196 countries, according to the Healthcare Index 2024 by CEOWORLD. In terms of healthcare, the country is better than the UAE, Portugal, or Finland.
The other proof of Malta’s healthcare quality is its current life expectancy index of 83.36 years — four years higher than the European average. Malta has experienced one of the most significant increases in life expectancy in the EU since 2019.
Malta's healthcare system provides all residents with a wide range of medical services and almost universal coverage. It is divided into public and private sectors. Both offer regular check-ups, tests, and free and paid medical care services. The majority of doctors tend to work in both public and private healthcare facilities at the same time.
The public sector is funded by tax revenues as well as contributions to national insurance from employers, employees, and self-employed. Due to this fact, Maltese citizens and EU nationals can use medical services for free or at a nominal cost. The same advantage is available for foreigners who obtained Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment.
Publicly provided healthcare in Malta covers the majority of essential services: from specialist treatment and prescribed medicine to emergency care, surgery, prenatal care and childbirth. However, the waiting time for non-emergency hospital treatment can be quite long.
Private healthcare is funded by private insurance or paid for by the patients themselves. It is a popular option among both Maltese and foreign residents, because getting an appointment in private clinics is usually quicker than in public hospitals.
The private sector delivers a broader choice of specialised services. For example, the largest private hospital in Malta, Saint James Hospital Group, provides most kinds of in-patient and out-patient services, surgical interventions, immediate medical care, and physiotherapy.
Malta’s healthcare system covers medical treatment on three main levels of care: primary, secondary and tertiary. Before exploring how these types work in Malta, let’s find out the difference between them:
Primary care in Malta is provided by both public and private hospitals. There are eight medical centres which deliver government-sponsored primary healthcare. Private clinics allow patients to choose their doctor and set appointments, whereas public hospitals mainly offer care on a walk-in basis. That is why private general practitioners account for 70% of primary care visits.
General practitioners in Malta offer treatment, give referrals to other specialists where needed and prescribe medications. Home visits are available after 8 PM and provided for urgent cases.
The doctors can be found not only in public or private facilities but also in pharmacies. In Malta, almost all of them offer paid general practitioner services at specific hours. These consultations usually apply to minor ailments: a general practitioner can prescribe medication or write a referral to a hospital.
Emergency care is provided at public hospitals, as well as private clinics. These services are only to be used if you need immediate attention, your doctor has referred you, or there is no GP available to treat you. The main state emergency department is located in the Mater Dei Hospital. It is open to everyone and operates 24 hours a day.
Among private hospitals with emergency departments, Saint James Hospital Group is the biggest one. It has three Immediate Medical Care Units around Malta. Each provides immediate first aid, medical assessment and treatment for emergencies and accidents. Notice that insurance is required once a patient’s condition has been brought under control.
Visiting a general practitioner or family doctor first is not obligatory in Malta. Patients can go directly to any specialist, especially in private practice. Secondary care is also offered by most public hospitals over the country.
Specialist doctors can combine work in state facilities with practice in private ones. Private hospitals have high-quality clinics and departments which cover all medical care needs — there can be up to 15 outpatient care services within one hospital. A few pharmacies in Malta have a consulting room not only with general practitioners but also with specialised doctors.
Dental care. Most dental care services in Malta are provided in private facilities at the patient’s own expense. Free dental treatment is available only in emergency cases and to a limited extent. Malta health centres offer a comprehensive range of general dental procedures but charge different fees.
Malta has an advanced level of highly specialised medical care in both public and private facilities. At the same time, it is more affordable than in some European countries.
Inpatient care is provided mainly by state facilities like the Mater Dei Hospital. It has over 1,000 beds, an intensive care unit, a surgical unit, and a recovery centre. The state rehabilitation hospital Karin Grech Hospital in Pieta has 293 beds.
The only hospital on the island of Gozo, Gozo General Hospital, also delivers inpatient medical and surgical services. It is a 302-bed hospital connected with health facilities on mainland Malta with an air ambulance service.
Surgery is performed both in public and private hospitals. Operating theatres at private clinics are equipped with the latest technology and provide a wide range of surgical procedures — from minor surgery to complex major interventions. The most notable private facilities with surgical units are Saint James Hospital Group and Saint Thomas Hospital.
Cosmetic surgery. Private clinics like Da Vinci Health or Saint James Hospital Group perform most kinds of reconstructive and plastic surgery, such as body or face lifts, fat reduction, breast augmentation and more. There are also highly-rated clinics which specialise only in plastic surgery.
Cancer treatment is offered for free in Malta’s public hospitals. The main specialised hospital for oncology is Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, which is physically and organisationally interconnected to Mater Dei Hospital.
Apart from comprehensive treatment, the hospital implemented a “Nurse Navigation” program. Its purpose is to guide cancer patients through treatment and support for months after it stops. This system was recognised by the World Health Organisation in 2022 and advised to other countries.
Clinics and hospitals do not usually show prices on their websites, so here you find the approximate price range of popular medical services in Malta. It is better to clarify the details about the selected facility by phone.
Approximate prices of medical services in Malta:
Dental treatment:
Overnight stay at Mater Dei Hospital:
Private healthcare insurance plans offer to cover the expenses for any treatment — from doctors’ consultations and diagnostic procedures to hospital accommodation fees and cancer treatment.
Due to Malta’s developed public healthcare, its citizens can receive medical treatment completely free of charge. State hospitals provide all the necessary services, including out-patient and in-patient services, specialist consultations, immunisation and vaccination services, emergency dental work, surgery, oncology care, and prenatal and postnatal care.
Patients are supplied with free medicine during hospitalisation and three days after discharge. Below you can find groups of people eligible for free healthcare in Malta.
Citizens have full access to publicly provided healthcare services. Taxes and contributions they pay fund the public healthcare system in Malta. Citizens with low income or certain chronic diseases get essential medicine and medical devices at no cost.
Expats who work legally in Malta also pay social security contributions. It allows them to have the same healthcare privileges as Maltese nationals.
Self-employed. In Malta, they are people who earn passive income from investment, rents and interests. Their remuneration must not come from occupation or trade.
Self-occupied. This term refers to people who are not employed and earn money from trade or skill. Their annual income must exceed €910. If employed workers in Malta earn €910+ a year, but work less than 8 hours a week, they are also considered self-occupied.
Travellers from another EU or Schengen Area state must provide their valid European Health Insurance Card for free medical treatment in Malta. If EU nationals plan to stay in Malta for over 90 days, they must get an S1 form in their country and register it with the Maltese Entitlement Unit.
Australian travellers. Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Malta, so its nationals can get free essential care in Malta. To receive treatment, Australian citizens must provide their country’s passport and Medicare card. The Agreement applies to up to six-month stays.
UK travellers. Due to a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Malta, the British have the same advantage as Australians, but within one month of stay. If UK nationals stay in Malta longer than one month, they must obtain a Reciprocal Health Care Certificate.
If a stay takes longer than three months, UK citizens must register as residents and their UK-issued S1 form with the Maltese Entitlement Unit. In this case, they will get access to the whole range of medical treatment, not only essential care.
Malta’s national insurance covers in-patient and out-patient treatment, emergency care, diagnostic services, and management of pregnancy and childbirth. It allows citizens, working expats and residents to use public healthcare services for free.
National insurance is financed by contributions to the Department of Social Security from employees, employers, self-employed, and self-occupied persons.
Social Security contribution rates in Malta:
Private insurance. Maltese citizens access public healthcare for free, so purchasing a private policy is completely optional. They can buy additional insurance to cover expenses in private clinics.
Some categories of people are obliged to purchase private healthcare insurance in Malta. Among them are:
Prices on private insurance plans depend on the number of services included and the age and chronic diseases of the insured. The average cost ranges from €275 to €700+ per year. Comprehensive policies give full coverage, while the most affordable ones can be limited to an in-patient cash benefit for some instances of hospitalisation.
Check the websites of the leading health insurance providers in Malta to find detailed information about their medical plans. Some popular insurers are MAPFRE MSV Life, Laferla, Atlas, Elmo Insurance, and Bupa Global.
Third-country travellers can visit a hospital for a fee, as they are not eligible for free medical care in Malta. Alternatively, tourists can buy private healthcare insurance to compensate for medical treatment.
Short-term visitors from another EU or Schengen Area state, the UK, or Australia get essential medical care in Malta for free. To get free healthcare without additional requirements, the travelling period must be limited to 90 days for EU citizens, 6 months — for Australian nationals, and 1 month for visitors from the UK.
Expats receive free medical treatment in Malta if they pay taxes and make contributions to the Department of Social Security. Employees and employers pay 10% of the weekly earnings, self-employed and self-occupied — 15%.
Foreigners can obtain a Malta residence permit — by investment, starting a business, marriage, family reunification, employment or for studying. Non-EU citizens who receive a residence permit by investment not only get access to local clinics and hospitals but also pay taxes under a special regime. The minimum annual tax rate is €15,000.
To acquire residency in Malta, investors buy or rent real estate and pay an administrative fee. Foreigners must also purchase health insurance for each family member in the application.
Malta Permanent Residence Programme is available for third-country nationals, non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss. The investors must fulfil several investment conditions:
Malta citizenship can be obtained by registration, ordinary naturalisation or naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment. The last one allows foreigners to apply for a passport after 1 or 3 years of holding a Maltese residence permit.
The residence period depends on a contribution sum. The residence permit must be kept for 3 years if an investor contributes €600,000 and for 1 year if the contribution amounts to €750,000.
There are three mandatory requirements to obtain Malta citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment:
Moreover, there is an additional payment of €50,000 for each family member in the application. Investors’ spouses, children up to 29 years old and parents or grandparents over 55 can also get Malta citizenship. All investors and their family members undergo a strict Due Diligence check.
There is no investment-based path to Malta citizenship. Maltese nationality legislation provides for the possibility of naturalisation in cases of exceptional merit.
The statutory framework recognises exceptional contributions across various areas, such as entrepreneurship, job creation, innovation, science, education, culture, or philanthropy.
The quality of the country’s healthcare is of a high standard. Malta’s healthcare is ranked 18th out of 196 countries for its effectiveness. Also, Malta’s life expectancy index is four years more elevated than the EU average. The country’s healthcare system works well enough to support people’s health.
Yes, but it is available only for Malta and EU citizens. Most foreigners must purchase health insurance.
Yes, foreigners can visit hospitals in Malta for a fee or after purchasing medical insurance. Citizens from the EU or Schengen Area state, the UK, or Australia are eligible for free medical care in Malta.
Yes, Malta is on the list of European countries with universal healthcare. Malta provides access to free medical treatment for all citizens. People with low income or certain chronic diseases are entitled to receive essential medicines and medical devices free of charge.
Prices depend on the hospital and the chosen medical service — from €15 for a general practitioner consultation to €3,100 for laser eye correction. Most expenses can be fully or partially covered by private insurance policies.
