ADPD calls for holistic health policy centred on prevention, mental health and environment

ADPD – The Green Party has outlined a holistic vision for healthcare, arguing that health policy should go beyond treating illness and instead address physical, mental, social and environmental wellbeing together.

The party said Malta should adopt the “One Health” concept in national healthcare policy, stressing that mental health cannot be separated from physical health and that prevention should become a central pillar of the healthcare system.

ADPD spokesperson and candidate Mark Zerafa said Malta already offers quality healthcare services, but more emphasis is needed on preventing disease through healthier lifestyles and better public awareness.

He said preventable illnesses continue to place pressure on the country’s limited healthcare resources, noting that hundreds of deaths could have been avoided through healthier living habits. The party is proposing educational campaigns in schools and among the wider public to encourage healthier diets with less sugar and fat and increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.

ADPD also linked transport and environmental policy to public health, calling for reduced dependence on private cars and greater use of cleaner transport options. The party argued that air pollution contributes to respiratory illnesses, while traffic congestion also harms mental wellbeing.

Among other proposals, ADPD called for stronger education on smoking risks and suggested opening a national debate on banning tobacco sales to people born after a certain date, similar to measures introduced in the United Kingdom.

The party also highlighted the importance of safer roads and urban planning that encourage walking and cycling, while warning that climate change could lead to the spread of tropical infectious diseases in the Mediterranean region.

On mental health, ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci called for urgent investment in a modern mental health facility within Mater Dei Hospital, while long-term care should be shifted closer to communities through regional centres.

 

RSS Feed Source: Independent Malta ADPD calls for holistic health policy centred on prevention, mental health and environment