Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1540773
9 maltatoday | TUESDAY • 28 OCTOBER 2025 BUDGET 2026 Budget tackles obesity, mental health, and dementia care THE budget promises the cre- ation of a new obesity clinic in response to Malta's ongoing struggle with high obesity rates. The clinic will provide struc- tured, multidisciplinary care, combining medical, nutrition- al, psychological, and physical interventions. Patients will also have seamless referrals to spe- cialized services, such as diabe- tes management and bariatric surgery, promoting a culture of lifelong health. Mental health and dementia care Mental health services will see significant improvements. Three regional mental health centres will open—one in Bormla and two in the central and northern regions—focus- ing on accessible, communi- ty-based care. Complementary measures include a new social centre linked to Mount Carmel Hospital and the Blossom Ini- tiative in Gozo, which targets early interventions for youth suffering from mental health issues. As part of the broader focus on cognitive health, a new demen- tia centre in Sliema will open in 2026, providing specialized sup- port for individuals living with dementia and reinforcing Mal- ta's ongoing dementia strategy. Hospital Infrastructure The budget also outlines the gradual transformation of St. Luke's Hospital into a health care village. Over the coming year, work will progress on the hospital's first main block, which will serve as a one-stop shop for outpatient services. The temporary relocation of Karen Grech Hospital will facil- itate the completion of this am- bitious project. Mater Dei Hospital will ex- pand its neonatal and paediat- ric units, add a second obstetric theatre, and introduce an ad- vanced cryopreservation facility to support IVF programs. Can- cer care upgrades include new linear accelerators, a haematol- ogy day ward, a Fast-Track On- line Referral System for gynae- cological cancer, and continued investment in the Cancer Re- search and Innovation Hub Malta (CRIHM), with over €3.3 million in funding. The Gozo Hospital will also see extensive upgrades, includ- ing a new helipad, expanded operative theatres, a renal unit, improved coronary and high dependency units, a hyperbaric unit, and upgraded pharmacy facilities, in line with the Gozo HealthCare Campus Master- plan. Health Centre operating hours in Ħal Qormi, Gżira, and Rabat (Gozo) will be extended to im- prove access. New service for diabetics A holistic assessment service for diabetic patients not cur- rently under regular follow-up is also being developed. The initiative aims to improve pre- vention, identify early signs of potential complications, and reduce the risk of serious health problems, ensuring better long- term outcomes. Eligibility for pink card The government has an- nounced a significant extension of eligibility for the pink card, lowering the age from 75 to 65. Individuals aged 65 and over who are receiving supplementa- ry assistance will automatically be entitled to free prescribed medicines under the scheme, without the need to undergo means testing. The budget estimates also in- clude a 300,000 expenditure on the free distribution of men- strual products in schools. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Rehoming centre for stray animals set to be built, Caruana announces FINANCE Minister Clyde Caruana an- nounced a series of new measures to enhance animal welfare in Malta as part of the 2026 Budget. In the coming year, work will begin on the construction of a new crematorium and a modern rehoming centre for stray animals, which will also include shelter facilities for horses. Preparations are also underway for the opening of the new animal hospital, which is expected to begin operations in the coming weeks, Caruana said. In the meantime, the government will in- troduce an out-of-hours veterinary service to provide care during atypical hours — between 8pm and 8am — as well as on Sundays and public holidays. The Ta' Qali animal hospital was meant to be reopened in 2024, as Education Minister Clift- on Grima, as well as Animal Rights Minister Anton Refalo had stated that veterinary stu- dents would carry out their studies there. The hospital has been closed since 18 August, 2023. In September, a dog owner was among the latest to raise concerns over the lack of animal emergency services after her two-year-old dog died. Stefanie Axisa was unable to find care for her sick dog, as she expressed her heart-breaking story on social media. The family also criticised the official animal emergency hotline. They explained that callers are warned of a €5 charge to continue, but stat- ed that even after agreeing, the call rang once before being cut off. KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt NI contributions made before turning 18 can be used for pension eligibility INDIVIDUALS with a low number of National Insurance (NI) contribu- tions can use contributions paid be- fore they were 18 years old to become eligible for a pension. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana explained that the measure mandates a minimum of 10 years of contribu- tions for every person, regardless of their year of birth. If necessary, con- tributions paid before the age of 18 will also be considered to reach this minimum. This follows last year's Budget 2025, which introduced the requirement for an additional year of NI contribu- tions. This year's measure, to be intro- duced through a legislative change, addresses inconsistencies in the cur- rent pension eligibility criteria, which presently vary according to a person's year of birth. For those born before 1962, the existing requirement sets the min- imum at 10 years of social security contributions paid after the age of 18. However, this does not currently ex- tend to those born in other years. For younger individuals, the minimum contribution period varies and can be slightly more than 12 years. The amendment aims to standard- ise these criteria, ensuring that the 10-year minimum contribution pe- riod, along with the ability to count contributions paid before age 18, applies to all individuals seeking to qualify for a contributory pension. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt