How the medical care is and how safe is Malta?

Hi Manu,
I like Malta very much, but I have family here so there is that connection. I'm still figuring out the health care thing but as far as I can tell, once I get an ID card I go from there (other members would have more info). It seems safe to me, though one must be extra cautious around cars. That would be relative to what you're used to . The weather, in my opinion, is glorious! People are friendly (in my experience), it's clean, blue skies...

Nange wrote:

Hi Manu,
I like Malta very much, but I have family here so there is that connection. I'm still figuring out the health care thing but as far as I can tell, once I get an ID card I go from there (other members would have more info). It seems safe to me, though one must be extra cautious around cars. That would be relative to what you're used to . The weather, in my opinion, is glorious! People are friendly (in my experience), it's clean, blue skies...

Healthcare is provided as long as you are working and paying your national insurance,  then in public health centers and hospitals you wouldn't have to pay .
if your from a country that has an agreement with malta to offer free healthcare such as the one the uk has with malta
https://ehealth.gov.mt/HealthPortal/chi … ltauk.aspx
you can also get free healthcare by applying for the card... what this means is your giving up your rights to free healthcare in the UK( or Europe via the ehic card)  for as long as your a resident in Malta .


if your not working or your not from a country with an agreement then you will have to pay for your healthcare and as part of your Residence card application you will need to proove you have adequate health insurance


BTW only maltese citizens now get an id card , as a foreigner you would get an E-residence card ,

Not quite correct, especially regarding Third Country National and EHIC etc. If EU member see the article at the top of this page.

Here is the new info on the eresidence card:
http://www.howtomalta.com/2014/02/how-t … -card.html

redmik wrote:

Not quite correct, especially regarding Third Country National and EHIC etc. If EU member see the article at the top of this page.

i did make it clear if your from a country that has an agreement and my example was the uk ...i also mentioned if your from a country other than that ... i never said tcn's had an ehic card i was referring to people from the UK ...

Hi Nange,

Thank You very much.  One we settle their I would like to invite you and your family for nice Lunch or Dinner.

Thanks Again

Thank You Very Much.  Any suggestion where I should move in Malta

that i guess depends on what your looking for .. how much your budget is and the local facilities you wish to have access too

What ever is reasonable pls suggest

well south malta is lovely , marsascala birzebuggia and marsaxlokk

pick a number  lol ... seriously you should come visit and pick the best area for you though

you don't say whether you are single or have a family. low skilled jobs are very badly paid minimum wage is E160 pw but many jobs pay less . Rents start from 400pw unless sharing plus utilities & food is not cheap.
Travelling on buses takes a long time if you don't live close to work. 
even if you are entitled to health care there are long queues & waiting times to see doctors .I'm maltese & had to wait 1 year to see a specialist.
So think twice

Rent does not start at E400 pw, start around E250 pm upwards depending upon type and location.
However, you live in India, I assume you are not an EU citizen so you will find it very difficult to find work etc.

mkiel wrote:

you don't say whether you are single or have a family. low skilled jobs are very badly paid minimum wage is E160 pw but many jobs pay less . Rents start from 400pw unless sharing plus utilities & food is not cheap.
Travelling on buses takes a long time if you don't live close to work. 
even if you are entitled to health care there are long queues & waiting times to see doctors .I'm maltese & had to wait 1 year to see a specialist.
So think twice

1. my rents 250 pcm  utilities are 23 for a gas cannister every couple of months and about 35 euros for electric...
2. food is reasonably priced and as long as you shop around you can get some decent food for less than 50 euros a week
3.travelling by bus can be slow yes but its no slower than any where else

i would presume that besides gas and elec. you pay something also for water?

maybe you can do with less then 50e week for food as it is just 2 of you, but we with 2 kids - no way

Duxx wrote:

i would presume that besides gas and elec. you pay something also for water?

maybe you can do with less then 50e week for food as it is just 2 of you, but we with 2 kids - no way

waters included in property afaik .. and 50 for 2 people so easily feed four for 100 , to be fair we cook a lot of home cooked meals and theres usually lots of leftovers which we freeze so i could easily feed a family of four between 50-100 euro a week .

its about buying the right products, using the local facilties, markets, lidl and the supermarket and knowing where to buy what from where ..

Hi rob,

water is not included in property. The bill for water consumption comes with the electricity bill !

Garbage collection is for free at the moment.

Cheers
Ricky

Thanks Ricky

you are not going to find a flat with 2 bedrooms  for less than than 400 E
I tried for weeks & now living in Mgarr paying 400.
I doubt you can feed 4 persons for 100E unless you don't buy meat & fish.

i buy meat and i dont buy fish im allergic to it  , i get mince 3 packs for 5 euros, i buy chicken thighs for 1.75 per kilo , i get beef steak for 5euros for about 8 slices  i also bought a whole chicken from lidl for 3.50  the other week ,  you have to shop around mkiel but  you dont have to spend a fortune to eat well ,

i guess im just used to making the most of very little  but each to their own and as for flats ..
3 bed http://www.maltapark.com/item.aspx?ItemID=3928137 (400pcm)
2 bed http://www.maltapark.com/item.aspx?ItemID=3927889 (300pcm)

it depends on where you want to live and what you want but even so 400 euros a month for 2 bed isnt a bad rental price ..

mkiel, you do not know what you are talking about.
I have 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 balconies for E320 pm and it is very new and smart.
E100 per week for food? Easy.
Unless of course you have very particular and expensive tastes.
Just because you didn't find the place and spend more, doesn't mean that others cannot.
We know you have a 'chip on your shoulder' in coming back here but that is your problem.

Hi,

we easily get along with 100 € /week for food/household stuff although we do enjoy our bottle of wine every evening!

What is more up to your own choice is the cost for a flat. Our 3 bedroom flat with a great south-facing terrace in Sliema costs 800 € which I consider a bargain after seeing many other places around the area.

After 6 years in Malta I still think that you get what you pay for. So it is up to you to compare. If you need any advice let me know and I am willing to go along with you and say yes or no !

Cheers
Ricky

robpw2 wrote:

i buy meat and i dont buy fish im allergic to it  , i get mince 3 packs for 5 euros, i buy chicken thighs for 1.75 per kilo , i get beef steak for 5euros for about 8 slices  i also bought a whole chicken from lidl for 3.50  the other week ,  you have to shop around mkiel but  you dont have to spend a fortune to eat well

Can you tell me please where you buy your mince, chicken and steak from? I think you know something that I don't know

Thanks

To be fair to everyone - sorry we don't live on malta YET - I can compare with how the UK is
People eat differently and living costs are personal
People at work wonder how we live so cheaply, well we shop around, use local markets, buy in bulk where its cheaper, don't go out buying loads of clothes and live WELL within our budget. We have however always been frugal as we were brought up that way, sometimes its a generational thing.

Some things are standard to all - gas/electric (although thats down to use too) Rent/Mortgage (down to where your happy to live) etc.

When/If we move to Malta - we will select an area we like and more than likely it will be Gozo, we will do the same, shop around, local markets, go fishing (if there are fish - its my hobby)

We also make our own wine, or should i say my wife does and its excellent.

BUT in the end its horses for courses there is no definitive answer as everyone is different.

Seems like we are getting off topic now, the post was about medical care in Malta. 

Please feel free to start anew thread about cost of living in Malta.

I shop at pavi , its in qormi (i go monthly on a thursday because if you spend 33 euros or more you get 1 free crate of water for every 33 euros spent)  and they have a meat counter there where i purchase the chicken thighs from , they are really good value , i usually get about 6 and then split them when i get home and freeze them into portions of two , they also have offers on wings, legs etc breast can be expensive  which is why if i want breast i buy a whole chicken or two from lidl . i will then use the whole chicken over the month  including the bones to make stock so nothing is wasted.
I get about 8 slices off beef steak its thin for around 5 euros its frozen pack but again it is useful  to eat either whole or to cut into strips for any beef dish i want , you can also get fresh versions for about 99 cts per slice , I always find if you dont see what you want ask them for it . mince comes in a 3 pack frozen for 5 euro . i bulk food out with vegetables and lentils or beans and i freeze leftovers and stuff
I also get 4 packs (4 in each pack)of burgers chicken or beef for 5.99 and those are frozen but again great for cutting up and using in curries or stirfries  etc

i will also shop at lasco , which is our nearest supermarket  for items  i know are on offer, or those things that pavi doesnt offer though pavi is a massive place.
I also shop at lidl .. You can buy chicken their for about 3 euros depending on size, they usually have a section for reduced meats and as long as its not brown i will get it and freeze it

The key is shop around, look for the best deals and ask about them if you cannot see something you would like  - i guess its easy for me we have had to live on a small budget for 7 years now so im used to making the most of what i have and though we are slightly better off in malta i still make the most of every cent