Moving health professionals as an alternative to moving patients: The contribution of overseas visiting medical specialists to the health system in Malta |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta c/o MSD 2090, Msida Malta;2. Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta;3. Islands and Small States Institute, University of Malta, Malta;1. Van Region Training and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Van, Turkey;2. Pamukkale University, School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Denizli, Turkey;3. Kafkas University, School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Kars, Turkey;4. Ipekyolu State Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Van, Turkey;1. Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznań, Poland;2. Department of Computer Sciences and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznań, Poland;1. Maastricht University/School CAPHRI, Department of Family Medicine, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands;2. Knowledge Institute of Medical Specialists, P.O. Box 3320, 3502 ZB Utrecht, the Netherlands;3. Department of Paediatrics, Emma Children’s Hospital/Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, the Netherlands;4. Princess Maxima Centre, Postbus 113, 3720 AC Bilthoven, the Netherlands;5. Dutch College of General Practitioners, P.O. Box 3231, 3502 GE Utrecht, The Netherlands;1. Department of Cancer Medicine, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France;2. Department of Urology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, and Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden;3. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital del Mar, UPF University, Barcelona, Spain;4. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain;5. Department of Medical Oncology, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France;6. Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus Medical Centre Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;7. Department of Medical Oncology, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Switzerland;8. Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik der Technischen Universität, München, Germany;9. Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK;10. Cancer Research Unit, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK;11. Department of Medical Oncology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland;12. Klinik für Urologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany;13. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany;14. Department of Urology, University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany;15. Service d’Urologie, Institut de Recherche Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium;1. Institute for Health Policy Management & Evaluation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Cross-border healthcare has become a major policy issue in the past years across the European Union. Professional mobility, as a means of providing specialised health services has not been given sufficient attention in both the research and policy agendas. This paper presents a case study of the contribution made by visiting overseas medical specialists to the health system in Malta. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted. A grounded theory approach was utilised in view of the limited amount of literature available on the subject. Qualitative content analysis revealed one superordinate theme, being the value of the service, and three further subthemes, which include the quality of the service provided, its longevity and durability, as well as the critical contributions of expatriates. The service is an integral component of the local health service. This study makes an important contribution to the literature on cross-border healthcare. Lessons learnt may be transferable to other small island states and territories. The European Reference Networks being developed at EU level may need to focus more on the benefits that can accrue through short term professional mobility than has been the case to date. The findings also serve to propose several important features that need to be in place to increase the chances of longevity, sustainability, quality and cost effectiveness in cross border health care services. |
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| Keywords: | Cross-border healthcare Professional mobility Patient mobility Maltese specialist diaspora Quality health service |
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