In a news conference, the Minister for Health and Active Aging Jo Etienne Abela announced a reform in mental health care that will be divided into three phases.
The minister explained that discussions have been going on with stakeholders regarding the mental health care sector, including with the unions that represent the workers in our country, with these discussions reaching their climax this week dedicated to mental health awareness.
Minister Abela announced that during the next three years the phasing out of the Mount Carmel Hospital will be implemented. This is to further reduce the stigma associated with institutionalization. He also explained that in the coming weeks, with an agreement with the private sector, the 120 stable patients will be relocated to homes in the community, with the Government employees relocating with their patients in these new sites.
The second phase of the reform will see that the acute psychiatry service is relocated to Mater Dei Hospital, where there will be a psychiatry ward that will be able to accommodate 30 patients. The last phase of this reform will be the introduction of an Acute Psychiatric Unit, with an investment of around €33 million.
This will be a state-of-the-art facility that will be able to accommodate 128 patients at Mater Dei Hospital. Minister Abela explained that this is a model of care that already exists in the General Hospital of Gozo where the treatment of all types of diseases is given by one hospital, without distinction. He continued that the Foundation for Medical Services (FMS) is in an advanced process to apply for the construction of this unit, which is thought to take about four years to complete. “The Government recognizes and agrees with the advice of the experts in the field of mental health and is determined to bring about a radical change in the infrastructure and services for mental health care. Committed to offering modern care in a welcoming and healthy environment”, concluded Minister Jo Etienne Abela.
