Better public health should guide Malta-Saudi Arabia collaboration – Farrugia

Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia said that Malta and Saudi Arabia's common interest of should act as the guiding principle for the two countries' future collaboration, which has been ongoing for 30 years.

Farrugia was speaking during a familiarisation visit by the Republic of Malta-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Joint Commission at the Ministry of Health in Valletta.

He said that the existence of the Joint Commission "is a mark of the strong ties between our two countries" adding that the two countries have "the enhancement of the health and well-being of our respective populations as a common interest" despite the geographical distance between them.

"This common interest should continue to be the guiding principle for our collaboration which has been established for the past 30 years," Farrugia said.

Farrugia has said that the best way to further strengthen existing relations and cooperation in the field of health between Malta and Saudi Arabia lies "through an intensification of our open dialogue especially with regards to the exchange of best practice in service provision, technical expertise and training opportunities."

He said that past relations have led to open discussions on cooperation in the field of health, resulting in bilateral exchanges on technology such as the provision of the first Computerised Tomography Unit to Malta and training of Saudi Medical Students in Malta.  

Farrugia added that both parties would benefit from deepening collaboration across several fronts.

These included strengthening mutual and reciprocal collaboration with regards to Training, Graduate and Postgraduate Education in the field of Health; fostering relations between hospitals and institutes of research and medical training; and exploring options regarding exchanging best practices, expertise and cooperation in international health programmes, as well as the mutual understanding of the respective health systems.

Farrugia was optimistic that the collaboration between the two countries would be met with success, and that the Joint Commission "will meet the outcomes expected of it."