Overall description

The Maltese Government provides a comprehensive health service to all Maltese residents that is entirely free at the point of delivery. The health service is funded from general taxation. All residents have access to preventive, diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative services in government health centres and hospitals. Speech-language services are available for children and adults.

Organisation

The majority of SLT services in Malta are delivered through the public health services. The majority of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are employed in health but they also provide services to education.
SLPs therefore work in:
  • community clinics;
  • hospitals;
  • adult training centres;
  • schools;
  • special schools.
A professional or carer may refer clients to any clinic where the SLT service is offered. Self-referral is also accepted for adults over 18 years. There is limited private practice, where clients have to pay the full cost themselves. The cost may be fully or partially recoverable from a medical insurance out of the individual’s personal initiative.

Education / Training

The first SLPs in Malta started providing services in the mid 1980s.  The Health Department in Malta co-ordinated a diploma course for SLPs, under the auspices of the British Overseas Aids.  For approximately 10 years, four SLPs catered for the whole Maltese Islands.  In 1991, a four-year degree course reading for a B.Sc. (Hons.) Communication Therapy was set up at the University of Malta.  To date, there are over a hundred qualified SLPs, several of whom have pursued Masters and Ph.D. studies.

License

All SLPs must apply for registration with the Council for Professions Complimentary to Medicine in order to practise in Malta. Once the Council is satisfied with qualifications and eligibility for practice they register with the Council.  No SLP can practice in the Health Department or independently unless they are registered with the council. There are currently 102 SLPs on the Council’s register.
There are as yet no regulations for continuing professional development (CPD) for SLPs in Malta.  However, Maltese SLPs participate in CPD activities out of their own initiative, often paying the costs themselves.  The Association of Speech-Language Pathologists Malta regularly organises CPD activities.

Recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad

International applicants are considered individually and must apply to the Council for Professions Complimentary to Medicine for registration.

Status of the profession

In Malta, SLT is considered as a paramedical rather than a pedagogic profession. SLT is broadly recognised by the public and the different sectors which demand SLT services.

Professional association

The Association of Speech-Language Pathologists (ASLP) Malta was launched in 1985 and it was immediately recognised as a professional association by the local Federation of Professional Bodies.  The first committee was made up of almost all the SLPs in Malta.  Over the past 20 years, as the number of qualified SLPs increased, the ASLP has kept on growing and developing to meet current challenges.

The ASLP is the recognised professional association of SLPs in Malta. It is the only professional body in Malta which brings together registered SLPs and students studying to qualify in the field of Communication Therapy.  The ASLP aims to:

• Promote the profession;

• Ensure highest quality services by safeguarding the code of ethics;

• Update professional standards with current developments;

• Create opportunities for continuing professional development;

• Create public awareness regarding speech-language therapy;

• Maintain international communications;

• Take any appropriate measure to fulfil the above aims.

The ASLP is a non-profit making organisation and any funds raised are used solely to upkeep the above aims.

Further information / Useful links

http://www.aslpmalta.org (Association of Speech-Language Pathologists Malta)

http://www.sahha.gov.mt/pages.aspx?page=203 (Speech-Language Department)

http://www.um.edu.mt/courses/bsc_com_th.pdf (University of Malta)

http://www.sahha.gov.mt/pages.aspx?page=84 (Council for the Professions Complimentary to Medicine)

www.mqc.gov.mt/page.aspx?id=20 (Malta Qualifications Council)

http://www.mfpa.org.mt/about.htm (Malta Federation of Professional Associations)

Author / Reference

Association of Speech-Language Pathologists Malta

info@aslpmalta.org

September 2007