Key facts
- Public care
- Free for those entitled
- Entitled
- Social security contributors, EU with S1
- Main public hospital
- Mater Dei, Msida
- Non-EU programmes
- Private insurance required
- Emergency number
- 112
- Retirement Programme
- EU-wide comprehensive cover
Good healthcare is a priority for every relocating family and retiree. Malta offers a public system that is free at the point of use for those entitled to it, a network of health centres across the islands and a substantial private sector of hospitals, clinics and specialists.
Who can use public healthcare
| You are… | Access |
|---|---|
| Working in Malta and paying social security | Public care, free at the point of use |
| An EU pensioner with an S1 from your home state | Public care on the same basis as residents |
| An EU visitor | Necessary care with your EHIC |
| A non-EU resident under a programme | Usually private insurance, as required by the programme |
Public hospitals and health centres
Mater Dei Hospital in Msida is Malta’s main acute public hospital. Gozo has its own general hospital in Victoria. Across the islands, health centres and local clinics provide GP-style care, and many pharmacies host doctors’ clinics at set hours.
Private healthcare
Many expatriates use private GPs, specialists and hospitals for speed and choice of doctor, even when they are entitled to public care. Private consultations are widely available, and English is spoken throughout the health service.
Insurance for residence programmes
Most non-EU routes require private health insurance:
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nomad Residence Permit | Cover for all risks in Malta and the EU |
| Malta Retirement Programme | Comprehensive cover for all risks across the EU |
| MPRP and GRP | Health insurance for the applicant and family |
Check the exact wording your programme requires before you buy a policy — international policies can differ on exclusions, pre-existing conditions and evacuation cover.
In an emergency
Call 112 for ambulance, police and fire. Save the address of your nearest health centre and pharmacy on the day you move in — our move-in checklist reminds you.
Choosing where to live
If regular hospital visits matter, living in the central harbour area — Sliema, Ta’ Xbiex and Gżira, Swieqi or the Three Villages — keeps Mater Dei close. On Gozo, the island’s general hospital is in Victoria.
