MMSA has taken proactive steps by contacting the Minister, seeking a meeting to discuss these concerns and contribute to the decision-making dialogue, and is waiting for a response.

The post MMSA releases a statement on the Minister for Health’s plans for Maltese healthcare appeared first on The Third Eye.

MMSA Executive Team 2023/24

• President: Adriel Camilleri
• Vice President for Internal Affairs: Katrina Buhagiar
• Vice President for External Affairs: Rebekah St John
• Secretary General: Emma Law
• Treasurer: Gerard Zammit Young
• Public Relations Officer: Denise Galdes
• Public Health Officer: Krysta Cutajar
• Medical Education Officer: Martha Schembri
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Officer: Valeriya Bonkova
• Peer Education and Training Officer: Clara Ann Formosa
• Human Rights and Peace Officer: Elyssa German
• Leisure Officer: Luke Vella
• Exchanges-in Officer: Maia Fsadni
• Exchanges-out Officer: Samira Gauci
• Electives Officer: Naomi Frendo
• Supervising Council with BD experience: Emma Azzopardi and Andre Chetcuti Caruana
• Supervising Council without BD experience: Nayeli Hili

Presidential Comment

‘I am immensely proud and excited to be leading this fantastic team into the new term! I would like to say a massive well done to all candidates who contested in this election. Your passion for MMSA truly shines and you should be proud of yourselves. Thank you to everyone who entrusted me to lead this organisation. I am certain that we will take MMSA to new heights!’

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck during their term!

The post Adriel Camilleri Elected as MMSA President appeared first on The Third Eye.

Earlier this year, retired chief justice Joseph Said Pullicino came out with a damning criticism against Maltese students and their supposed “lethargy” regarding social issues and their unwillingness to raise their voices to bring about a change.

“Not even the assassination of a journalist [Daphne Caruana Galizia] to shut her up – an event that shocked the world – managed to wake the student body from its apparent lethargy,” he wrote. Such strong words. He then proceeded to highlight the contrast between the apparent status quo to the national student-led protests and charity actions against the Russian invasion of Hungary that took place in 1956, whilst mentioning the lack of “any significant ripples of protest or initiative of note within university circles”.

Another shocking headline this year, seemingly running alongside what the former ombudsman said, read “52% of young Maltese people say they shun activism”. Quite the number! A little over half of all Maltese youth say that they apparently “shun activism”.

Now, why am I bringing this up? Is it to add an extra complaint to the seemingly endless pile of complaints about the contemporary student?

Do not get me wrong, I do agree that there is an issue with the current downward trajectory we have with regards to young people’s involvement in social issues. I think that it does not bode well, especially when we are living in a time when we are witnessing daily major violations of people’s human rights, be it internationally or here at home.

Like former chief justice Said Pullicino said, “The lack of meaningful student activism is symptomatic of a young genera­tion comatose to the consequences of grave injustices”. I do agree with him on that, however, I do not think that the main issue is that people are afraid of talking about these issues due to some apparent cowardness or fear of consequences to one’s career prospects as he put it.

I am a student, an outspoken one at that. I live amongst students in my day-to-day, speak with them, and hear their concerns. It might be simply anecdotal but what is apparent to me is not that the students are afraid of raising their voices, while some may feel that way. The issue I see is two-fold.

On the one hand, we see a whole generation of young people who became desensitised to the horrors they see reported on the news, day in, day out, without any significant action being done in response to a large public outcry. Just symbolic or minor concessions by those in power only to the most significant of those movements.

On the other hand, many students are simply blind to the possibility of, or at least how to go about, organising with fellow like-minded people in order to bring about change in society. They were never taught how to do that, and with a schooling system that values conforming to predetermined traits in order to succeed rather than encouraging self-expression and exploration, they were not even provided the space to explore those possibilities. Later in life, their time becomes a valuable commodity, due to work, relationships, hobbies, assignments and the other time-demanding aspects of life, it becomes almost impossible for someone to learn about the importance of and how to go about activism, without being invested in it already.

In fact, lack of time was one of the leading reasons reported by students in the aforementioned Article.

Viewing it from this perspective, it becomes clear that this loss of interest is not simply the ‘lethargy’ of these lazy and afraid students, but rather a form of system-induced catatonia. We are a product of our environment in the end. Therefore, one starts seeing that simply chastising these students is not the answer, but to reach out to them on their own terms. To teach them the value of their voices, and how to exactly go about it.

This is why MMSA is placing student activism and organisation as one of our aims for the term, as well as our central theme for this year’s World Human Rights day. A day to celebrate and remind ourselves of the importance of these rights, as well as the importance of the daily struggle many people endure to make sure that these rights stay inalienable to all. A reminder that making your voice heard is an integral part of protecting your rights.

That is why this year MMSA will be holding an event at University Quadrangle to celebrate World Human Rights Day. So join us on 7th December between 12:00 and 16:00 where we will be hosting a number of stands discussing the different aspects of Human Rights, activism, and how you can make your voice be heard!

Additionally, we are happy to announce that we will be joined by a number of amazing collaborators who will be hosting their very own stands on the day, talking about topics near and dear to their organisations, and explaining how they have been engaging with these topics locally to make a difference. Make sure to join us!

The post Human Rights Day | MMSA appeared first on The Third Eye.

These students have reported missing belongings while doing their attachment in the operating theatre where they have to completely change their clothes and leave their belongings in changing rooms or specific areas near the changing room. These students were surprised after finishing their attachment to find some of their belongings missing including money and wallets. 

When reporting the incidents to workers in the changing room, the workers helped the students with reporting the incidents. However, they advised students not to leave their belongings in changing rooms but to leave them near the workers’ office, especially since students don’t have lockers to store their items. Students were also advised to keep their wallets and phone on them at all times.

The scene in the changing rooms when the theft was reported to workers shows that it wasn’t the first time such incidents have occurred, and the changing rooms are not the only area where something similar has happened, with a student saying that money was stolen from her wallet last week when she was doing her attachment in the wards. Another student responded by saying that she has been told to never leave money with her belongings in the wards as it always gets stolen.

MMSA statement on the alleged theft

The Third Eye has reached out to MMSA for a response about the alleged theft of student belongings and the following was stated

MMSA strongly condemns the recent alleged incident of theft occurring in Mater Dei Hospital ….

MMSA demanded that greater action needs to be taken in light of these allegations

MMSA would like to call for greater security presence around the hospital, especially in the common area, we believe that all medical students should be provided with a safe and secure place to store their personal belongings whilst on attachments in the hospital without the added stress caused by these alleged incidents

MMSA also didn’t forget the lost belongings of students in these cases, adding

We also urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter with the goal of locating a culprit and returning the alleged stolen personal belongings to their rightful owners

For the full statement click here.

Important note

It’s important to note that everything stated in this article is still allegations and students’ reports with no official statement from the hospital or relevant authorities as of the date of publication.

We have removed all the names and associated information from the messages to protect the right of privacy of the students and have asked for permission to post these texts.

For other MMSA related articles click here.

The post Medical students report stolen belongings while on attachments in hospital appeared first on The Third Eye.

Meet the team:

President: Nicholas Galea
Vice-President for External Affairs: Martina Chetcuti
Vice-President for Internal Affairs: Martina Formosa
Secretary General: Donnah Agius
Treasurer: Maya Morrow
Public Relations Officer: Katrina Buhagiar
Exchanges-In Officer: Emily Diacono
Exchanges-Out Officer: Conor Shaw
Public Health Officer: Adriel Camilleri
Medical Education Officer: Rebekah St John
Sexual and Reproductive Health Officer: Emma Azzopardi
Peer Education and Training Officer: Anneka Pace
Human Rights and Peace Officer: Yahia Deghaili
Electives Officer: Andre Chetcuti
Leisure Officer: Lara Bugeja – 202 votes
Supervising Council with BD Experience: Timothy Borda
Supervising Council with BD Experience: Leanne Fava
Supervising Council without BD Experience: Daniel Zammit Lupi

Votes Breakdown:

A total of 11 candidates contested for five different positions, however, only five out of the original eleven secured a position within the team.

President:

Nicholas Galea got 252 votes while Andrea Bugeja received 140 votes.

Vice President for internal affairs:
Martina Formosa obtained a total of 260 votes while Owen Cachia got 135.

Public health Officer:

Adriel Camilleri got 255 votes while Gabriel Grixti got 99.

Leisure Officer:

Lara Bugeja got 202 votes while Tara Borg Caruana got 162 votes.

Supervising Council without BD experience:
Daniel Zammit Lupi got 182 votes while Gerard Zammit Young 109 and Gabriel Camilleri got 41 vote.

Presidential Comment:

I am so honored and excited to lead this amazing team into the next term!

Thank you to everyone who trusted me with their vote, and a huge well done to all candidates, every single person who contested for any role should be extremely proud of themselves, your dedication to MMSA – Malta Medical Students’ Association does not go unnoticed.

Let’s get to work!

The Third Eye wishes the new team luck for their upcoming term!

The post MMSA Elections: Nicholas Galea to lead MMSA 22/23 appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Gabriel Grixti and Daniel Zammit Lupi from MMSA

As MMSA, this year we are re-introducing the ‘Diabetes Awareness Campaign’ in the hopes of reaching out to the public about this extremely prevalent disease. It is estimated that 422 million people have the condition worldwide, and this number is expected to rise further within the next decade. We believe that people should be made more aware of this disease which affects quite a large percentage of our population.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when the blood glucose level (or blood sugar) is too high. Glucose is the main source of energy for our cells and it comes from the food that we eat. Insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas, aids the uptake of glucose so that it may be transformed into energy. Sometimes the body does not produce enough insulin or loses its ability to use it. When this happens, glucose remains in the blood leading to a high blood glucose level.

The main types of diabetes are: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes) is a chronic condition which occurs when the body does not make insulin. This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, as the immune system attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas (beta cells) that produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to control their blood glucose.

In Type 2 diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin to cope with the body’s demands or it loses its sensitivity to use insulin. Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, however, it more commonly develops in middle-aged and older people. This is the most common type of diabetes. People having this type of diabetes are able to somewhat better control their blood glucose levels when compared to type 1 diabetes who need to take daily insulin.

Gestational diabetes develops in some women during pregnancy. Typically, this type of diabetes goes away after the mother gives birth. However, if you have had gestational diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life. Any woman can develop this during pregnancy, but women with the following risk factors are predisposed: BMI above 30, previously having a baby who weighed 4.5kg or more at birth, or having an immediate family member diagnosed with diabetes, amongst others.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

The symptoms of diabetes and the presentation is not always the same. Certain symptoms only occur in either men or women. In addition to this, they also differ in people having type-1 or type-2 diabetes. However, there are some general symptoms common to all. These general symptoms include increased hunger and thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, blurry vision and sores that do not heal. Men who have diabetes could also exhibit the following symptoms: decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction and loss of strength. Diabetic women are more prone to urinary tract infections, yeast infections and dry skin.

What are the complications of diabetes?

High blood sugar damages organs and tissues all over the body. The higher your blood sugar is and the longer you live with it, the greater the risk of complications. Complications associated with diabetes include: heart disease, heart attack and stroke, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage (nephropathy), eye damage (retinopathy), vision loss, hearing loss, foot damage, ulceration which may lead to amputation and depression. People with type 2 diabetes also have an increased risk of dementia (Alzheimer’s). In gestational diabetes, complications include pre-eclampsia and also a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life.

Preventing Diabetes

People with type 1 diabetes unfortunately could not do anything to prevent them from getting the chronic disease. However, type 2 diabetes which is the most common form of the disease, can be prevented. One can take the following measures to prevent developing this form of diabetes.

1. Reducing sugar and refined carbs from your diet
2. Keeping active
3. Drinking water as the primary beverage
4. Maintaining a healthy weight Being overweight enhances your chances of developing type 2 diabetes 7-fold
5. Quitting smoking Smokers are 30-40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes when compared to non-smokers. Smoking can also make managing the disease difficult because high levels of nicotine can lessen the effectiveness of insulin causing smokers to need more insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Studies have found insulin to become more effective at lowering blood glucose levels just 8 weeks after quitting smoking
6. Following a very-low-carb diet
7. Reducing stress Stress hormones raise blood pressure and heart rate causing blood glucose levels to rise. Stress can lead to excessive smoking and eating which increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes can lead to serious medical complications but the condition can be managed with medications and lifestyle changes. One of the most important notions in medicine is understanding that PREVENTION is BETTER than cure, therefore by focusing on PREVENTION and adapting the appropriate lifestyle changes one can avoid developing the complications and struggles that arise from this disease.

Diabetes awareness campaign on Quad

On Wednesday 24^th November from 12pm to 2pm, the Public Health team within MMSA will be organising health checks as part of the ‘Diabetes Awareness Campaign’ on quadrangle for University students and staff to get their blood glucose and blood pressure checked. We hope to see you there!

References

1. Diabetes mellitus, fasting blood glucose concentration, and risk of vascular disease: a collaborative meta-analysis of 102 prospective studies. Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration
2. Diabetes. Who.int. (2021). Retrieved 31 October 2021, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes.
3. What is Diabetes?. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Retrieved 31 October 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html.
4. Diabetes Symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Retrieved 31 October 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html.
5. Asif M. (2014). The prevention and control the type-2 diabetes by changing lifestyle and dietary pattern. Journal of education and health promotion, 3, 1. https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-9531.127541

Find more articles by MMSA here.

The post A Diabetes Awareness Campaign | MMSA appeared first on The Third Eye.

A man attempted to take his own life yesterday by jumping off the Valletta bastions. Several onlookers gathered around the scene, however, most urged the man to jump instead of trying to help him. 

The Third Eye is appalled by the comments that were said to the man who was clearly in a vulnerable position. Suicide is a serious topic that should not be taken lightly and should never be encouraged. 

Student organisations voiced their own thoughts regarding the situation, with KSU highlighting the number of suicide deaths a year

“… close to 800,000 people choose to end their own lives. This works out to one person every 40 seconds.” 

With a number that high, people should be more sensitive to people who are struggling, instead of shaming them for their actions or thoughts. 

Other student organisations spoke out about the events, with the MMSA stating that there should be

“more awareness on the topic.” 

The Third Eye agrees with the above statement, as suicide should not be treated as a taboo subject, but rather as something that should be discussed openly in order to prevent future tragedies. Furthermore, we believe it is critical to educate people from a young age on how to approach someone who has suicidal thoughts and tendencies so that events like those in Valletta do not repeat themselves. 

Betapsi released a statement mentioning important points on what to do when encountering a suicidal person: 

“…the first thing to do is to report it to the police and call an ambulance. When talking to the person, it is important to keep calm and to encourage them to come back to safety.” 

Further organisations, such as SDM, continue to show their support to those struggling by encouraging them to speak up 

“You don’t have to struggle in silence.”

While Pulse raised their concerns over the lack of discussion there is around the topic

“Suicide is a serious public health problem and if the subject of mental health will continue to be neglected in our islands, suicide rated will increase extensively”. 

Student organisations have spoken, and it is clear that serious discussions need to take place regarding the topic of suicide as many feel that education on the subject is lacking, resulting in incidents such as that of yesterday. 

Below are some sources available to use when you need to talk to someone: 

The full comments from the above mentioned student organizations are found here: 

KSU

MMSA

Betapsi

SDM

Pusle

The post Student organisations voice their thoughts following Valletta incident appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Anneka Pace and David Magri

Being that we live on an island which is enveloped by beaches, we spend the majority of our free time during the summer months frequenting the seaside. With this comes increased exposure to the sun. Although beneficial to a certain degree, as it alleviates stress and boosts our immune system, it can be detrimental beyond such levels.

As medical students, we believe it is our duty to educate the general public about the consequences of excessive sun exposure to help prevent and mitigate the risks imposed by such harmful UV rays. Through the Standing Committee Of Public Health within the Malta Medical Students’ Association, a campaign is launched annually.

“Beat the Burn” aims to raise awareness about these dangers and the ways in which one can combat such risks.

The harm imposed on us by the sun manifests itself through many skin-related problems. These cane be severe sunburns, blisters, premature ageing and even skin cancer.

Meet UV A, UV B & UV C

Radiation of the sun’s light consists of invisible UV rays. The UV rays emitted by the sun are of 3 types: UVA, UVB and UVC.

• UVC: Has the shortest wavelength of all UV rays and never reaches the earth as the ozone layer absorbs it, thus it is not usually considered a risk for skin cancer.

UVA and UVB are the real culprits for damage brought about by the sun. Due to their longer wavelengths, these rays penetrate the skin.

• UVB: Strongly linked to cancer and tends to damage the skin’s top layers.
• UVA: Has the highest wavelength of the three, penetrates farthest, and thus plays a role in skin ageing and wrinkling.

When these rays make contact with skin, they cause damage to the skin by burning it. The strength of the sun’s UV rays is quantified through the UV index.

The higher the UV index value, the stronger the sun’s rays. This, therefore, emphasises the need for protection against these rays. Being that the usual UV index in the summer months is between 8-10, adequate protection is required. This will help lessen the repercussions of these preventable illnesses.

The effect of UV rays in Malta

Being a prominent carcinogen (an agent with the capacity to cause cancer in humans), UV radiation can result in basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Although this form of radiation does not penetrate deep into the skin, it is also responsible for being a major risk factor for melanomas (a form of skin cancer that begins in the cells (melanocytes) that control the pigment in your skin).

It has been reported that throughout the years, the incidence of invasive malignant melanoma in Malta has increased. This further drives the motivation behind our efforts to raise awareness to children and adults alike to take this message seriously. In fact, in Malta, the number of cases of such skin cancer has doubled in the last two decades. According to statistics, one in eight people dies due to this in Malta, which can be cured if caught early!

It is notable to mention that the incidence of skin cancer and melanoma differs in different racial populations. Light-skinned people are more susceptible to skin cancer than dark-skinned people. Their predisposition is due to their decreased melanin levels in comparison to darker people. Melanin, a skin pigment, is considered to offer protection from UV radiation. Therefore, extra caution is required by light-skinned people due to this.

How can I protect myself from the UV rays?

With the ever-increasing temperatures and continuous heat waves we are experiencing, it is of utmost importance that people keep cool and hydrated.

The use of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher is salient. It is advised that one should apply it at least 20 minutes prior to going out, and every 2 hours after that.

It is also wise that one avoids the strongest rays of the day which are between the hours of 11 am and 4 pm. One can also follow up on the shadow rule, which states that when a person’s shadow is shorter than the person is tall, the intensity of UVR from the sun is more likely to cause sunburn. In such situations, people should seek shade.

Besides this, one should cover up when possible. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat helps to shield the sun’s rays away from prime areas for skin cancer which are the scalp and face.

Sunglasses should also be worn. One must ensure that when purchasing a pair that they protect against both UVA and UVB rays.  It is also recommended that cold showers are taken to help soothe the burn. After-sun products or aloe-vera gel can be further useful!

With all this being said, fear of exposure to the sun is unnecessary when one takes all the precautions required to attenuate such risks. However, if one continuously fails to do so, long term repercussions may result.

Our campaign’s efforts with regards to awareness-raising are not rooted in steering clear of the sun, but rather striking a balance. One can have fun in the sun while also successfully managing to beat the burn.

Check out MMSA’s previous article here!

The post Beat the Burn: UV Rays And Ways To Combat Them | MMSA appeared first on The Third Eye.

MMSA held its 2nd ever online AGM which took place over two days; 22nd and 23rd March. Both days had an attendance of over 100 members. On the 24th of March, MMSA held the candidates’ debate, where the contested candidates had three questions to answer that were set by the EC followed by two questions from the audience. This event had an attendance of 103 members.

The fresh faces of the team are as follows:

• President: Matthew Buttigieg
• Vice-President for External Affairs: Michaela Abela
• Vice-President for Internal Affairs: Mick Zammit
• Secretary General: Daniel Agius
• Treasurer: Timothy Borda
• Public Relations Officer: Martina Formosa
• Exchanges-In Officer: Mark Farrugia
• Exchanges-Out Officer: Martina Chetcuti
• Public Health Officer: Diana Gauci
• Medical Education Officer: Nicholas Galea
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Officer: Owen Cachia
• Peer Education and Training Officer: Leanne Fava
• Human Rights and Peace Officer: Cristina Sollami
• Electives Officer: Suhrid Roy
• Leisure Officer: David Cuschieri

• Supervising Council with BD Experience: Andrea Bugeja
• Supervising Council without BD Experience: Abigail Micallef

The Third Eye got in touch with newly elected President, Matthew Buttigieg, and current President, Gloria Montebello, to get their comments on the new and previous term.

Buttigieg is extremely proud of what the previous board has done for the organisation and is honoured to have been entrusted with such a wonderful team!

MMSA is one of the most active student organisations on campus, representing over 700 medical students. Our student engagement has remained at an astonishing high, even in the midst of a pandemic, and this is something to be proud of.

Thank you to all MMSA members for entrusting me to lead our organisation throughout the upcoming term! We have achieved so much throughout the past term and I can only see our work getting better. Our members have elected a highly motivated and hard-working Board of Directors, who I have no doubt will take MMSA to new lengths.

Montebello talked about the challenges they faced throughout the term due to the pandemic.

Every Board has its own challenges and for us, this meant that we had to deal with a Global Health Emergency – this allowed our officers and coordinators to show their proficient ability to tackle this COVID crisis and help our communities. The team worked on relevant material, an active voice, student engagement, internal restructuring, external relations and a new capacity-building strategy.

But despite it all, Montebello took the time to praise their successes.

MMSA also finalised two policy papers and the strategic plan for the 3 years to come. Above all, most importantly we kept our members’ health and safety as a priority. Continuity is the key to keep this strong momentum going.

To the next Board, I am so excited to see your ideas materialise and continue to celebrate our 70th year anniversary! All the very best!

The Third Eye wishes all the best to the new executive board!

The post Matthew Buttigieg to lead MMSA for 21/22 appeared first on The Third Eye.

This article has been written in collaboration with ESO

Trust is at the centre of a doctor-patient relationship: trust in the practitioner’s capabilities but also trusting that the patient will follow the famed ‘doctor’s orders’. In a world reeling due to a destructive pandemic that has lead to healthcare workers taking on a heroic image, surely the level of trust must have increased and is unanimous amongst physicians and patients globally…

Is trust in doctors high?

Yes, research shows that trust in healthcare workers was very high and remained so in the pandemic. However, an anecdotal dive into social media comment sections is enough to seriously challenge this idea; with many individuals placing very little faith in doctors, sharing numerous conspiracy theories, and promoting alternative/borderline dangerous suggestions or points of care.

Where do such viewpoints arise from?

Hesitancy and mistrust in doctors stem from a number of factors, namely negative past experience, but also due to broader influences that may be misconstrued as being confounding. A common example of such influences is the political context that is affecting a country’s healthcare system, say by supranational institutions such as the European Union. ‘The EU wants our money… we have lost our sovereignty and independence… they are interfering with our healthcare…’ – common gripes amongst the ill-informed.

This, of course, cannot be further from the truth. The European Union has formed the European Health Union (EHU) in order to draw lessons from the Covid-19 crisis: to repair and prepare for the future. Pandemics and illness know no border, therefore unilateral action by countries would reap very few benefits compared to a strong EHU with 27 member states’ as its foundation. Through the EHU, the EU wishes to achieve a number of goals.

What will the European Health Union do?

1. Coordinating efforts at a European level will mitigate problems caused by the closing of borders, which hampered people’s freedom of movement and trade.
2. Misinformation on health issues will be tackled in order to reduce skepticism on health measures.
3. In addition, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), will be able to deliver hands-on support to member states and provide recommended health measures (not direct orders), tailored to the specific needs of the state.
4. Shortages of medicinal products and medical devices and facilitation of new treatments will be addressed through the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as authorisation of vaccines.

As can be seen, these objectives have member states’ autonomy at their forefront, whilst bringing with them advantages which only such a union can offer. In particular, point 2 should work wonders for maintaining the high level of trust which the healthcare industry enjoys; this is crucial in any era, especially our current times. 

What are the implications of a reduced sense of trust in the health sector, particularly in doctors?

There is tangible evidence that points to a strong correlation between patient satisfaction and trust in their doctor, but perhaps surprisingly, also a moderate correlation between trust and health outcome. In other words, the more trust is placed in the doctor, the more likely it is for the patient’s prognosis to be favourable. It is therefore clearly in our best interest as European citizens to praise and look forward to similar initiatives such as the EHU, for a better Malta now and in the future.

Check out MMSA’s previous article here!

The post The EU’s impact on a trusted healthcare system | MMSA appeared first on The Third Eye.