Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar welcomes a national vision that recognizes that “progress cannot be measured by GDP alone, that places greater value on well-being, education, sustainability, innovation, inclusion, and quality of life, … the outcomes that truly matter to people.”
The recently published Malta Vision 2050 is a document which deserves in-depth study, as a blueprint to how we develop Malta’s economy that is intended to provide long-term benefits that span far electoral terms. FAA is acutely aware of Malta’s special and resource limitations, hence the need to utilise them judiciously, ensuring that growth respects the carrying capacity of the country while enhancing quality of life.
While the economic development proposed in Vision 2050 is essential to progress, Malta needs to develop a sustainable economy which is not based on population growth, but on the quality of the services it offers, be it in tourism, financial services, manufacturing, exports and other sectors. The proof of this Vision will lie in a detailed strategy on how this is to be achieved. Development should promote heritage, and protect the ecology that contributes to well-being, directing investment toward projects that provide long-term benefits rather than short-term gain for future generations.
During the past 12 years we have seen a 30% increase in our population (as a result of foreign workers) which has placed a strain on our infrastructure – roads, water and electricity supply, drainage system and health care, as well as construction to accommodate newcomers, to the detriment of the local population. The envisaged population growth associated with the proposed economic growth is missing from this report.
The same applies to tourism. While the target of raising tourist numbers from 3.6M in 2024 to 4.4- 4.5M tourists in 2035 would benefit the economy, it raises serious concerns regarding sustainability, quality and authenticity, as well as residential amenity. Tourists add further pressure on our transport, utilities inc. drainage system, amenities, healthcare as well as recreational spaces. Studies are required on how to maintain sustainable tourism through policies that increase the quality rather than the quantity of tourists.
Quality of life, including residents’ health, must be given prime importance, starting with the undertaking of Carrying Capacity Studies in order to scientifically assess the current situation.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) understands that Vision 2050 seeks to set Malta’s direction for the next 25 years, therefore our feedback has been drawn up not in a spirit of criticism but of highlighting the issues to be taken into account as strateghic priorities. FAA has for this reason engaged experts in various fields to highlight the implications of issues related to the sustainability and limitations of our small islands, while also proposing ways to support our economy with limited population growth. Thus, the authorities can plan our townscapes, conserving our ODZ areas as green areas, and providing overall infrastructure to serve our future needs. Integrated planning technology can help enormously in achieving this.
We are pleased to submit our report covering issues which concern FAA directly, including the following contributions by the related professionals:
The Vision 2050 document should state clearly and unequivocally, that Malta’s small size, and consequently its ability to satisfactorily offer services related to the infrastructure and other public goods, such as education and health, should be taken into consideration in any demographic assessment, and that, in this regard, immigration should as much as possible be contained, and not encouraged. One approach to reduce the need for immigrants is by upgrading employee productivity in Malta.
The GDP of a country is composed of compensation to employees (mostly wages) and operating surplus and mixed income (mostly profits, rent and interest) all generated from the production of goods and services. Although the number of employees in Malta has increased in recent years, the share of wages in GDP has tended to decrease. This is probably because the increase in the labour force mostly consisted of low-productivity and low-paid employees – in other words the increase in population through imported cheap labour, is leading to the share of income from production favouring business owners. It is to be noted that a large proportion of the Maltese economy is now based on operations with low-productivity per employee (including tourism and construction).
For this reason, my recommendation and that of many other economists, is that the situation would be improved if Malta upgrades its employee productivity, by for example using modern technology, and employing better educated workers, who would therefore earn a higher salary. This would, at the same time, reduce Malta’s high reliance on imported cheap labour.
We should keep in mind that, even if workers originating from developing countries do not cause social and cultural problems, the rapid increase in population driven by immigrants may be fuelling inflation, increasing property prices, intensifying the use of the infrastructure, escalating traffic congestion and fuel emissions, and putting excessive pressure on educational and health facilities. Without any doubt, all these factors negatively affect the quality of life and the wellbeing of the Maltese people and should all be taken into account in the coming process of setting strategy for Vision 2050.
Our economic plan must redefine how we assess success as a country by placing greater value on well-being, education, sustainability, innovation, inclusion, and quality of life. As residents realise how an economy that relies disproportionately on construction, mass tourism and cheap labour is eroding their quality of life and identity, these are the results that matter to people and must guide the choices we make for the future.
Prof Lino Brigugli0
Vision 2050 gives considerable importance to tourism which is undoubtedly a very important industry for the Maltese Islands, providing revenue, employment opportunities, and cultural contacts, normally considered of benefit to all. Yet, the document overlooks the fact that the tourism industry does have its negative side, including unmanageable overtourism, irresponsible tourists and the feeling that locals are becoming strangers in their own home.
Such factors encroach on the tranquillity and daily routines of the locals ultimately leading to a sentiment of aversion and negativity towards tourists. This ever more pressing situation needs to be addressed by Vision 2050 strategy as the lives and neighbourhoods of residents are being encroached upon and taken over by outsiders. This sentiment is with us already and has been developing over the last decade or so, especially in tourist zones such as Sliema, St Julians’, Mdina, Valletta …. This phenomenon is attested around the globe with manifestations of disgust, anger and aversion in such tourist hotspots as the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Venice, Barcelona and Bali, among many others.
Social media, which reflect the ‘man-in-the-street’ on-the-ground experiences, makes this evolving situation more emphatically clear, confirming that it is much more than a perception. The building of more hotels, and floors over existing ones, blocks of short-let apartments adding to the congested atmosphere, are documented and commented upon daily by the media and their comment boards. This extensive and uncontrolled development is exposed by a large portion of common citizens who have had enough and are now disillusioned by an industry that has become a burden more than a blessing.
Tourism is a knife with two blades, and both are sharp enough to cut profusely. The harder we try to attract tourists and these come, the higher becomes the necessity to supply them with decent accommodation, and the more numerous the accommodation options we build and provide, the more elevated would be the tourist numbers required to keep these structures profitable and sustainable. It makes the situation difficult to control – a vicious circle of undeniable complexity.
Malta’s size restrictions dictate the amount of people that we can actually and realistically accommodate before the islands are overtaken by sheer numbers especially during the high season which takes Malta’s population up to 652,000:
The large numbers of tourists roaming our streets, crowding our open spaces, conglomerating at beaches, bars and restaurants, requires level-headed deliberations and decisions to be taken in the Vision’s strategic follow-up. The mushrooming of further catering and hospitality outlets, the occupation of our squares and streets by tables, chairs and tents are challenges indicated by Vision 2050 as undermining quality of life, that have to be tackled.
Overpopulation, including exaggerated tourist numbers, is already an issue – the environment is suffering, the amenities are struggling to keep up with basic demands (electricity, water, drainage), noise and light pollution, while authenticity is being eroded. Residents’ frustration is rising, let alone when tourist arrivals rise from the present 3.6M to the target of 4.4- 4.5M of tourist in 2035. These are all issues that need to be studied by undertaking Carrying Capacity Studies and SIAs in order to indicate solutions.
One needs to clarify that it is not the tourism industry per se that is the problem but how a destination treats and handles it. Tourists go wherever is affordable to them and not every visitor seeks the same services. Some want quality and are ready to pay for it. Others look for inexpensive breaks which impinge lightly on their pocket. Some are after highbrow cultural indulgencies, others only want a budget holiday.
And here lies the dilemma for the destination and its policymakers. The Centralized Program Management Office accountable for the Vision execution needs to establish whether we want crowds of visitors who take more than they spend and who leave destruction in their wake, or if we prefer a tourist who is morally and socially responsible, prepared to pay well for a high-class, dedicated service – and how that is to be achieved.
Is it not time to decide what tourism Malta really needs, even deserves. One needs to embark on independent Carrying Capacity Studies, in order to take decisions which safeguard our present and future as a tourism destination. A Vision is as good as its level of real sense and rationality, and as much as it is taken seriously by those who make it happen.
Policymakers need to own up to the reality that Malta will not be able to handle more people than its size and logistics allow. Aiming for 4.5 million tourists by 2035 when we are already almost there, is unrealistic and damaging. Those in authority need to take rigorous and (at times) drastic decisions which will, in the medium to long term, give results that many will appreciate and from which the destination and its residents will eventually benefit.
Politicians and decisionmakers are the linchpin. The future of Malta as a tourism destination turns on their decisions, outlooks and rationality. It is their responsibility to address the issues that the various sectors of the population are putting on their plate. A level-headed policy is what is required at this moment in Malta’s tourism sector, as indicated above. Appeasing one and all may not be easy, yet favouring one sector to the detriment of the others is not advisable and surely not desirable.
While tourism remains a main economic pillar, financial profit cannot not be the only concern. People also seek and need tranquillity, relaxation, a breathing space, a clean environment and a country they can still call their own. The far-seeing policymakers should keep all this in mind while deciding on the way forward for Malta’s tourism industry.
Prof. George Cassar
Given that the Vision 2050 document is an initial assessment of the direction that Malta aspires to, the Malta Sociological Association strongly recommends the mainstreaming and adoption of Social Impact Assessments (SIA) as an important tool to establish the strategy priorities of Vision 2050. The International Association for Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”.
An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social Impact Assessments should not be one-off exercises, but ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.
They should therefore be an essential, integral part of the next phase of Vision 2050.
Reference is made to the feedback of the Malta Sociological Association:
https://www.maltasociologicalassociation.com/2025/08/msas–contribution–to–public.html
As regards the Blue Economy, it is important to note that while was initially envisioned to promote prosperity, environmental stewardship, and equity—particularly by Small Island Developing States— the concept of Blue Economy has often been co-opted into extractive practices such as cruise tourism and offshore energy that generate ecological harm, social injustices, and the marginalization of local livelihoods. Indeed, the list of Blue Economy activities:
To ensure that the Blue Economy is more sustainable, we call for bringing environmental and social concerns together, with a stronger role for the social sciences in policy-making. This entails (1) uncovering how power and inequality shape ocean use, (2) promoting fairer and more inclusive ways of governing, such as involving communities directly in maritime planning, and (3) improving links between science and policy through shared tools, transparency, and care.
More information, and reference:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44183–025–00138–1
Penca, J., Ertör, I., Ballesteros, M., Briguglio, M., Kowalewski, M., Pauksztat, B.,Cepić, D., PiñeiroCorbeira, C., Vaidianu, N., Villasante,S. & Pascual-Fernández, JJ. (2025) Rethinking the Blue Economy: Integrating social science for sustainability and justice. npj Ocean Sustain 4,
Prof Michael Briguglio Associate Professor
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Malta
4. Infrastructure
Vision 2050 presents us with a challenge, of strengthening our economy without impacting our quality of life and basic services infrastructure. Vision 2050 is intended to address future infrastructure needs, allowing for long-term system planning and design.
The past five to ten years have shown us the result of unprecedented population growth. From 2012 to 2022, Malta’s population grew by 28.6%, from approx. 461,000 to around 574,000 as at end 2024 (NSO).
This residential increase (without factoring in the rise in tourism during the past 3 years) has brought about a strain on our infrastructure which has not been developed at the same pace. In some areas services even degraded with lack of investment, development, or correct maintenance. As infrastructure, I refer to our roads system, public transport, electrical sources and distribution, water management, drainage system and its treatment, as well as solid waste handling.
1. Roads and related services
Vision 2050 acknowledges Malta’s road congestion, which is especially due to Malta’s reliance on the use of private cars, poor road design at certain junctions, inadequate maintenance and poor planning of roadworks. Vision 2050 proposes a national green road transportation system combining private, public and shared micro-mobility – this is a clear priority, also due to traffic delays causing impacts on productivity. As a next stage, FAA urges the authorities to commission studies from Malta’s experts for holistic solutions that overcome problems caused by the fragmentary measures of the past. The carcentric policies of successive governments must cede to public transport instead of the private car. There is an overriding need to reclaim space away from car dominance and create safe, attractive, and accessible environments for walking, cycling, and public life.
Public transport has been singled out as needing improvement, and Vision 2050’s follow-up strategy needs to address a piecemeal public transport system that does not make logistical sense, while ferry transport which seeks to relieve road transport, is still not up to standard, as missed runs discourage passengers needing a punctual service.
It is clear that our Public Transport needs to be restructured in its routes and schedules as well as in its vehicles, where mass-transit alternatives like electric trackless trams should be considered along with AI flexible lane control systems, to be in line with foreign city systems. Connectivity can now be met by integrating transport systems, however the challenge for Vision 2050 is to carry out the studies to ensure that the systems chosen are effective and beneficial to residents, without creating further issues like depriving residents of swimming bays.
3. Electricity; its source and adequate distribution
Vision 2050 highlights the need for long term planning which is not only required for development, but also when dealing with power network expansion, where it is the duty of the Planning Authority to plan and decide on the growth of residential areas, in accordance with the Local Plans and their boundaries. Then the Regulator (REWS) ought to commission studies to extend the power network accordingly and adequately for long term planning.
Vision 2050’s ambition to a renewable energy share of 25% by 2030, mainly through photovoltaic systems is positive, as is affordable energy to address energy-poverty to improve energy affordability for all households, and especially for particularly vulnerable consumers, by promoting affordable power supply mix, expanding renewable power adoption and enhanced grid efficiency. The quoted incentives for residential, industrial and public buildings renewable power and storage systems are laudable,
however, given that the impact of tall buildings has dampened the pace of residential installation of solar panels, FAA asks what measures and studies are to be undertaken in order to meet the timeline of 25% in less than five years.
A major lacuna of Vision 2050 is the almost total absence of consideration of water supply, drainage systems and sewage.
The water supply situation is adequate for our current demand, but then we still have problems with our natural water aquifer. It is imperative that Vision 2050 implementation tackles the issue of over-pumping mostly by the private sector who are abusing this public resource of ground water.
The water we distribute, mostly returns via our drainage systems. Sewage Treatment Plants are overwhelmed by the additional loads of the increase in population and tourists. The whole system needs to be upgraded with adequate pumping and buffer storage to avoid sea contamination via sewage overflows from public drains or pumping stations that cannot handle the load in their area. Similarly, the strategy phase of Vision 2050 needs to address the situation of farms that still lack waste treatment plants, which results in blockages or sudden load reaching treatment plants, upsetting the whole bacteriological process.
There is a lot to be done in such sectors, however the Centralized Program Management Office accountable for the Vision execution will need to define where and how much our country can afford. Once we establish an overall plan, we can design the required infrastructure to suit the loads.
5. All Utilities
All services are closely related therefore the implementation of Vision 2050’s targets needs to first be regulated by Planning Authority adherence to development zones as indicated by the Local Plans. The challenge for Vision 2050 implementation lies in eliminating haphazard planning which is permitting ODZ land to be used for development, and then requiring new services extended to such new areas. Ensuring an adequate infrastructure needs to eliminate such a haphazard planning.
On a macro level, the use of underground tunnels is recommended, but this ought to serve various facilities together, not just Enemalta. Service tunnels ought to belong to the state to serve other infrastructural needs.
We do appreciate that over the past 10 years, Waste Serve has done a much to try and mitigate the problem of solid waste handling however incineration remains a highly contentious issue which the Centralized Program Management Office needs to assess in the light of more environmentally acceptable technologies.
The other main problem to be tackled involves waste collection; Vision 2050 consultation with Regional Councils, Local Councils and residents is needed to chart the way ahead to improve such activity to be more flexible, during off-peak traffic times, and more effective in areas of tourist activity. There needs to be much more enforcement to curb abusers, coupled with awareness and education.
FAA urges the Government to prioritise infrastructure development, as economic growth without sustainable infrastructure is reducing, rather than enhancing, our quality of life.
Ing Michael D’Amato BSc. (Eng. Mech)
Changes are needed in construction, planning and political commitment to provide a sustainable built environmental that practices resource-stewardship in reusing existing buildings and prioritises regeneration over greenfield development. Efficient water and energy management, sustainable material sourcing, and waste reduction are all to be factored in.
Vision 2050 lays great emphasis on sustainability, health and quality of life however unless there is real and true political will, the programme will fall short of its targets. The Vision document also mentions ‘Smart Construction’, efficient use of resources for development, while minimizing emissions and ensuring the protection of the environment. While vey laudable, these are challenging targets, for which reason we have gone into detail about the measures it is felt that the Vision’s Project Management Office would need to integrate into its strategic priorities along with the overriding issue of political commitment: Four priority issues stand out:
The first concern is safety; the public deserves safe buildings. Recent collapses and fatal accidents in buildings prove that in Malta, one does not need an earthquake for a building to collapse, it can collapse by itself or because of vibrations from an adjacent building site. The impact of extreme climate change, climatic earthquakes or natural phenomena on our buildings is very concerning.
The ‘quick money’ syndrome ‘build as much as you can, as fast as you can’ boom has produced many ruthless contractors lacking in expertise, who evolved to building on a larger scale using the same perilous methods that they used on smaller buildings before. Hundreds called themselves builders overnight. Many failed to pass the basic contractor’s license exam but were still allowed to demolish, excavate and build. Having a warranted perit and a permit you can legally build, does not guarantee the safest structure.
We are currently building weak structures, both by design and also because of the use of inferior and possibly non-EU compliant materials that could be a fatal disaster waiting to happen. Vital structural loadbearing walls, which could already be weak, are becoming weaker by amateur services contractors cutting conduits into them.
Accidents, tremors or vibrations can transform brand new apartment into family graves. Because of hidden lobbying, Malta is the only EU state without a National Building Code. We are the island where inexperienced, unskilled, self-proclaimed contractors can demolish, excavate and build as they please, utilizing unskilled workers.
Some years ago, top construction experts, stakeholders and university professors were given the task by the Building Industry Consultative Council, the BICC, to draw up the Maltese Building Codes. the priorities were the Demolition Code, the Excavation Code, the Structure Code and the Safety, Access and Egress Code. These were fully completed, together with intensive explanatory notes, and ready for public consultation. However, without warning, the process was stopped, the BICC was totally dismantled, while finished codes are still awaiting publication for pubic consultation and subsequent enactment.
Months later, the Sofia tragedy took place, which could have been avoided if the codes were in place. The codes specifying three method statements in every site, for demolition, excavation and structure respectively were not requested.
The Skill Cards assured that workers have the minimum skill to do their respective task on a building site. Thousands were issued. Countless courses were prepared by MFHEA that, at the time was recognized by the EU. These need to be reintroduced.
Contractors need to be properly licensed and classified in accordance with their skill set. A two-person team experienced in minor alterations should not be allowed to supervise multistorey complicated large projects accommodating hundreds of people unless they have the necessary skill set in their workforce.
The BCA needs to be totally restructured and led by expert professionals of proven integrity. It should publish the finished codes for public consultation and initiate all the duties required by the legislation that it was founded on. Unless this is done, the general public is at risk of more casualties.
Buildings have a life span; being used to being surrounded by ancient structures, many think that buildings last forever, however this is not the case, as reinforced concrete loses circa half its strength after fifty years as materials slowly deteriorate and in time, buildings would need to be rebuilt. New buildings should utilize building techniques that make it easier for them to be carefully dismantled and stone preserved, not brutally demolished.
In the future, modular structural members should be introduced in such a manner that they can be replaced. The structure has to be partly over-designed to resist accidents and climatic conditions that could lead to its disproportional collapse. This not only makes the building safer but also allows its diminishing structural integrity to be restored thus extending its life span.
Buildings should also be designed for multi-use where the structure of the building envelope, services and vertical transport is independent of the interior partitions. This would make adaptive reuse for a different class/function much easier and environmentally sustainable.
Dangerous building designs including soft storeys and the like should not be allowed unless they are structurally compensated to resist collapse.
Health stems from a good quality of life; having comfort and peace of mind, safeguarded from air pollution and excessive noise transmission.
Buildings should have the minimum green energy requirements as per Technical Document F, 2024 while Government tax incentives should promote buildings that achieve higher energy certifications like LEED and BREEAM.
Similarly, mandatory government incentives should promote communal roof solar panelling to service the electrical requirements of the internal and external common areas of new apartment block.
New buildings should reflect a high quality of living and buildings should be accessible for all in accordance with the proposed Safety; Access and Egress Code. This makes the building accessible to all, where there would be adequate exit areas in case of disaster.
The practice of having light floor slabs that transmit sound pollution from one apartment to another should be discouraged. We need to transition from quantity to quality living.
Extra floors on existing older apartments should be strongly discouraged; all new buildings should be freestanding from foundations to the top, not attached to adjacent buildings. Placing large extra loads on existing load bearing walls without the necessary studies should not be allowed, as this can lead to serious damage to existing underlying apartments and possibly to the foundations.
Most importantly, Malta requires centralised, integrated data and ongoing decisions and processes from all authorities, providing unified guidance and decisions, technical data, legislation, policies, and standards, making them accessible to all stakeholders in a transparent way.
Arch Martin Debono.
Vision 2050 calls for a sustainable environment that supports the well-being of current and future generations, through four strategic pillars including smart land and sea usage, promoting efficient spatial planning and conservation of natural resources for long-term ecological balance. It emphasises that construction industry will place greater emphasis on renovation, sustainable spatial planning, and enhancing citizen well-being through the built environment. In Urban Planning, the aim is to promote sustainable architectural practices and ensure that land is allocated to support liveable, compact communities, stating that development will be guided by long-term spatial plans that prioritise functionality, resilience, and visual harmony as well as promoting Gozo’s identity, talent and cultural assets.
FAA strongly supports all of these values, adding that implementation of Vision 2050 should include a planning process that has to be state of the art, with high aesthetic standards and a very serious regulatory framework. Town planning has to be exceptional. The concept of allowing huge jerry-built, developerfriendly, multi-story pigeon holes, ugly blocks of flats must be stopped. These should be replaced with strategic, eco-friendly, sustainable and beautiful, high quality-of-life planning, that is appropriate and acceptable in our Mediterranean setting and climate.
While it supports the Vision’s drive towards renovation, sustainable spatial planning, FAA calls for indepth studies to justify the Vision’s emphasis on spatial intensification through vertical development, given that such structures generate high energy demands and create urban heat canyons. Similarly, how does Government intend to safeguard arable land, cultural assets, and community identity? This new mindset demands that urban and architectural development must develop a deep understanding of place, calling for design that is responsive to local character, history, and environmental conditions. This should ensure that projects contribute to the public realm, valorise heritage, envision long-term societal benefit. Therefore, any urban vision should treat heritage as a living civic asset.
However, both the Vision 2050 aims, and FAA’s ideals have been overtaken by the new Planning Laws 143 and 144, along with their subsidiary legislation. Far from “promoting efficient spatial planning and conservation of natural resources” these new laws will give the Planning Board the discretion to deviate from policy based on architectural, spatial and contextual considerations.
Moreover, they will institute vested rights, which will entitle the permit holder or user to compensation if environmental regulations are changed and make that activity illegal, this impeding policy makers from regulating existing harmful activities in the future through a financial penalty for the State. They also aim to impede the Government from changing planning policies to promote greater sustainability in response to the changing needs of the country.
Other clauses of the new laws will allow dumping in natural areas, “as long as the site is returned to its original level and contours” – irrespective of the environmental damage being caused. The laws permit arbitrarily rezoning of ODZ areas into DZ areas, as well as arbitrarily change the existing height limitations of an area, therefore severely hampering Vision 2050’s efforts to ensure public access to urban and rural green spaces and preservation of heritage areas.
FAA welcomes Vision 2050’s intention to “Prioritize sustainability by encouraging eco-friendly travel and conservation efforts, attracting high-value visitors while preserving Malta’s heritage…while implementing a nationwide initiative to restore, preserve, and repurposing historical sites and underutilized heritage buildings into cultural and community spaces… upholding the importance of Cultural and Heritage Preservation, recognising the need to respect and safeguard Malta’s unique identity and historical legacy.” However, all of these fine intentions will be swept away by the new laws that will sanction illegalities up to 2024, including in scheduled buildings. This clearly undermines the resolution: “At the heart of a resilient nation is a strong sense of National Identity. Malta will invest in reinforcing its cultural and historical assets.” The same goes for measures to protect agriculture, ensure food supply chain resilience, and measures to mitigate Climate Change.
These laws will also thwart the intended “strengthening of digital and civic security, and rebuilding public trust through transparency, participation, and accountability” as the proposals have introduced a clause which states that development planning information which is not explicitly listed under the public’s right of information, will no longer be provided to the public. This is a setback for transparency in planning as it means that the Planning Authority can now legally hide certain documents, minutes or reports from the public or from third party objectors.
Bills 143, 144 and their subsidiary legislations clearly make a mockery of Vision 2050 values for more sustainable urban and rural areas, heritage, as well as a healthy quality of life.
FAA therefore calls on the Centralized Program Management Office accountable for the Vision execution ensuring a cross-Ministerial implementation of initiatives to bring this to Cabinet level, that all the efforts to develop this Vision and then implement it will be doomed to fail once these laws are ratified.
Astrid Vella
FAA Coordinator
The Envision 2050 document delineates the Maltese government and concerned stakeholders’ ambitions for various domains in Maltas future. This long-term approach, going beyond electoral cycles, is particularly essential to the health of our nation.
Many of the document’s health-related goals and pillars are commendable in both rationale and scope. On a background of significant economic progress in Malta’s recent history, quality of life issues have often been unfortunately relegated to secondary considerations. The proposed strategic shift towards greater emphasis on quality of life and wellbeing, aligning these with economic development and environmental sustainability, is a step in the right direction. The document’s acknowledgement that progress cannot be measured by GDP alone and references to other measures such as HDI and overall life satisfaction are encouraging.
In response to a booming population and shifting demographics, improvements in the current health system’s infrastructure are proposed to improve service capacity and quality. Population growth remains one of the most pressing matters facing Malta’s healthcare system, considering that between 2000 and 2025 the population grew from around 400,000 to over 563,000, with a sharp increase around 2014 primarily due to immigration of working-age third country nationals. If this trend does not slow down, a consequent similar or greater population increase in the next 25 years, compounded by an aging native population, growing tourist numbers, and a dwindling native workforce, our healthcare infrastructure will be subjected to unprecedented levels of stress. Prolonged waiting times and bed shortages have become a serious challenge for health planners. While various reactionary measures have helped to attenuate these problems, going forward, a pro-active, holistic approach would more effectively prevent or at least minimize these problems in the first place.
In this context, robust investment in health infrastructure remains evermore essential, but we will still be faced with the need to reconsider our current population growth dynamics. An economy reliant on population growth in a small resource-limited nation will inevitably strain our healthcare system further. It will also exacerbate other problems threatening public health such as pollution from construction, commercial activity, vehicular emissions and waste, loss of open spaces to over-development and overcommercialization, and social breakdown from rising housing costs, sociocultural tensions, over-tourism, and overburdened public services. For our expansive healthcare system to remain truly accessible and inclusive as outlined in the document, the aforementioned population factors require effective policymaking and planning.
Reference is made to more public-private partnerships with the aim of enabling a greater breadth and quality of medical service provision, in a timely manner. While recent examples of outsourcing of imaging requests and surgical interventions to private hospitals have helped to reduce waiting lists, future similar projects should be planned and managed according to a national framework for PPPs to ensure transparency, equitable access for all patients, and fiscal responsibility. Simultaneously, rigorous safeguards should be implemented to protect against malicious and poorly executed partnerships which could cost the taxpayer more than an initial direct investment in the public system ever could have.
The document refers to present and future developments in healthcare such as new technologies, more personalized care, further integration of health informatics and digital tools such as AI & telemedicine. The rollout of these in our healthcare system requires a detailed plan and a timeline to ensure their timely expansion.
A brief mention is also made to a voluntary health insurance plan. While this system exists in other EU states, its possible introduction in Malta should be preceded by extensive public consultation, expert research and rigorous planning to ensure that the principles of justice, beneficence and autonomy are upheld should this system come to fruition, with the patient remaining at the heart of this system.
As non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the leading causes of death in our country, addressing them is vital. In addition to investing in screening, diagnostics, therapeutics and human resources to minimize the burden of NCDs, a society-wide holistic approach remains essential. Public Health campaigns, food regulation, environmental enforcement, urban planning, investment in public transport and micro-mobility, and preservation of public open spaces and creation of new recreational spaces are mandatory for addressing risk factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, substance misuse and chronic stress. Beside NCDs, reference is also made to palliative care, which has become allthe-more important in light of the recent public consultation on assisted voluntary euthanasia, and the growing numbers of patients living with debilitating chronic medical conditions.
Noting the limited detail on Malta’s 2050 vision for psychiatric care, the plan for this sector requires further elaboration, particularly as the prevalence rates of mental health conditions continue to grow. Other issues which merit greater consideration include epidemiological changes such as the recently observed increases in incidence of certain cancers in younger patients globally, for which screening programmes are being revised.
Another recommendation that would be welcomed includes introduction of more medications on the Government Medicines Formulary List. Subsidies are mentioned for IVF treatments in an effort to improve fertility rates. While these would certainly benefit a cohort of patients, it remains only one part of many which need to be addressing in this manner. The dwindling fertility rate merits the creation of a task force to investigate the role of various biological, environmental, socioeconomic, cultural and personal factors contributing to this situation in the local context, in order to generate policies and programmes aimed at assisting prospective parents.
The Envision 2050 document sets ambitious goals for Malta’s future. Our society’s increasingly complex medical needs and expectations demand that this ambition be translated into action. This vision of a higher quality health service and improved quality of life for all can only be achieved through holistic planning, strategic execution, and periodic assessment of progress. Rapid and unexpected changes in the local and global landscape during this 25-year timespan may prompt revision of some goals and the introduction of some new ones. At all stages, it is imperative that policymakers and key stakeholders keep patients and public health at the heart of this process.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar maintains that Vision 2050 is a sound starting-point to build upon. In order ensure its implementation, we have to take real stock, laying our economy and governance bare, with all their strengths and systemic weaknesses. The steady implementation of the proposed measures requires real political commitment and a genuine readiness to include all stakeholders, including the business sector, constituted bodies and civil society represented by NGOs.
Vision 2050 takes a sectoral approach to Malta’s future development while FAA advocates a holistic commitment to the quality of the islands’ urban and rural environment as an integral part of its social and economic development, prioritising the needs and aspirations of community, rather than those of specific interest groups. This approach integrates land use, transport, housing, green and blue infrastructure, economics, health, welfare and public realm improvements so that policies across sectors can work in harmony towards tangible goals.
The Maltese Authorities need to recognise that the quality of streets, parks, public squares, and natural spaces profoundly influences mental and physical health, mobility and the independence of children and elderly, social interaction, and civic pride. Priority should be placed on developing planning policies that no longer encourage constant redevelopment in residential areas, obliging people to live in permanent construction sites. Through studied design, these measures should effectively enhance climate, manage storm-water, reduce heat island effect, and support ecological health. Liveability is about comfort, safety, inclusivity, and the equitable distribution of public amenity.
We urge the authorities to factor in SDGs and Climate Change mitigation measures, in the next phase, as well as undertaking Carry Capacity Studies while making SIAs mandatory for all plans and policies.
While the Vision provides an overview, it needs to be by followed up by clear targets, structured planning, and practical implementation accompanied by education in planning practice to empower communities to truly participate in environment issues that affect them.
However, there can be no talk of best practices, law enforcement collaboration and a commitment to transparency and adaptability while Bills 143 and 144 threaten to undermine the whole process. The embedding of anarchy in the planning process, which should instead be regulating the sectors of development, tourism, infrastructure, environment, heritage and quality of life, will place Malta on a downward spiral contrary to all that Vision 2050 aspires to.
FAA expresses appreciation to all the consultants who contributed their input on a voluntary basis, for which FAA thanks them heartily.
Only as detailed in these reports, we can ensure the growth and liveability of the Maltese islands, preserving their identity, heritage and quality of life.
Signed: Charles Mercieca, FAA Chairman, Astrid Vella, Coordinator
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar