The Minister for Health and Active Aging Jo Etienne Abela announced the direct helicopter link for the transfer of patients between Gozo and Mater Dei Hospital. The minister said that from the beginning when the Mater Dei Hospital started operating, the helipad did not fulfill its original purpose, due to various challenges that prevented the landing of the helicopters.
He explained that the ministry understood the critical importance of a functional helipad in a central hospital where every minute counts to save lives. Therefore, the rehabilitation of this site was treated as a priority and the challenges were overcome.
Minister Jo Etienne Abela said that through work by the Medical Services Foundation, Transport Malta, and international aviation specialists, the ministry prepared the Mater Dei helipad, with the first flight (test-flight ) will land at the helipad on 5 December 2024. He spoke about how yesterday, the 10th of December, the first medical use was successfully carried out through this link, as a Gozitan patient was flown from Gozo to Mater Dei in a state of emergency.
The transfer lasted only 15 minutes with the patient being ready for the angiographic intervention in the operating room in the Department of Radiology. “This is a crucial development in the care of Gozitan patients. For us the health of the patient will remain an absolute priority. Therefore we will continue to strengthen this service with the next phase of a helipad at the Gozo General Hospital,” concluded the minister, while thanking the professionals for their commitment.
Photos: MHA
