The Minister for European Funds and Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, said that investing in professional development is vital for organisations like Hospice Malta to maintain and expand their essential role to provide additional healthcare services. He was speaking during a visit to Hospice Malta where he witnessed first-hand how European funds are supporting initiatives in training and professional development within palliative care.

The project, which saw Hospice Malta staff undergo training and professional development, is funded under the Erasmus+ programme. This training aims to strengthen the skills and capabilities of Hospice Malta’s workforce, ensuring the organisation continues to deliver high-quality palliative care services to patients and their families. As part of the initiative, Hospice Malta professionals participated in job shadowing experiences in Aachen, Germany, and Galway, Ireland.

These opportunities allowed participants to observe best practices, innovative approaches, and advanced service models in palliative care. The project also includes three “train-the-trainer” sessions, enabling staff to share knowledge and experience gained abroad with colleagues across the organisation.

In parallel, a public information campaign is raising awareness about palliative care and the importance of ongoing training in this sector. Hospice Malta CEO Kenneth Delia expressed his gratitude for the support from European funds, highlighting that investing directly in staff translates into enhanced quality of care for patients and their families. Concluding the visit, Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strategically utilise European funding to strengthen essential services, such as those provided by Hospice Malta, and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families