The positive results of the work in the health sector continue, with Malta achieving the lowest rate of limb amputation in Europe in 2024. This was announced by the Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela.
Minister Abela said that last year, 52 amputation operations were carried out in our country, compared to over 130 operations in previous years. He explained how the reduction in amputation interventions fell by more than 62%. He stressed that these results are the result of the work of a dedicated and well-trained multidisciplinary team. The Government remains determined to invest more in vascular training, in more sophisticated equipment and in preventive care to continue strengthening this excellent record.
The Minister said that when one compares our statistics with those of other countries, we find that in Malta 10 leg amputation interventions were performed for every 100,000 people. In European countries that number is more than double Malta’s and amounts to more than 20 interventions for every 100,000 people.
Minister Abela reiterated that this success is due to a substantial improvement in the care service both in the community through podiatry services and in the hospital through the improvement of radiological and radiography services and in care in the field of vascular surgery. “We have an excellent team that has been working for years to achieve this result. Today we also launched a new community clinic that will be operating in Ħamrun and which will include tissue viability nurses, wound nurses and vascular surgeons who will be working together to maintain and even improve these results that we have achieved.”
“I thank the entire team of professionals in both Malta and Gozo who work every day to prevent these interventions. The Government is committed to continuing to work and invest in preventive care both in hospitals and in our communities and also through the Malta 2050 Vision, we will ensure that this is ensured in order to improve and protect the quality of life and health of Gozitans and Maltese,” concluded Minister Abela.
