Editorial

Thanks to EU membership, Malta is now part of the ongoing and ever more detailed statistical studies introduced as part of the European Commission's Health Strategy.

The most recent study also focused on EU citizens taking health checks as such procedures are crucial to detect disease in its early stages. When tackling illness, especially life-threatening diseases such as cancer, prevention is not just a matter of being better than cure. Prevention and very early detention are the only hope. In most cases, late detection has a fatal outcome.

Like most EU citizens, the Maltese score poorly in undergoing tests to check for prostate or colorectal cancer. This is particularly worrying as prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer in men while colorectal cancer is the third most common for men and the second most prevalent for women.

With the impact of a rapidly-aging population, Europe will face a sharp rise in the increased burden of cancer incidence. Prevention and early detection are of paramount importance.

Thankfully, other health checks are more popular in Malta as routine check-ups for blood pressure, eyes and teeth have much higher scores.

Just detecting disease patterns is only the first step. Besides an overview of health-related issues, the EU study reflects on the effects of health problems on the day-to-day lives of citizens. It examines public habits regarding health check-ups as it recognises that for early diagnosis it is essential that people are examined at regular intervals.

People also have to be motivated to adopt lifestyles that are more positive. Unhealthy diets, lack of exercise and bad habits such as smoking tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption have to be addressed.

Thankfully, more and more Maltese are now aware of the risks of high cholesterol and the EU study singles out the fact that Malta has the highest proportion of respondents who made changes to reduce it.

Throughout all the health conditions reviewed, three factors stand out. As to be expected, the older one got, the greater the risk of suffering cancer and chronic disease. The other two factors were education and income. The better educated are usually better off financially. These two advantages showed up markedly in the awareness of this group to the importance of adopting a healthier lifestyle as well as resorting to medical screening tests.

All this invaluable statistical information offers opportunities. Yet, it has to be carefully analysed in order to plan and execute an effective public health programme.

For public health measures to be successful, the authorities should target those most at risk. Even if one had to ignore the plight of the individual, it is bad policy to overlook a section of the population, even though it constitutes only a statistical minority. The state has a particular responsibility to address with more energy those who are more underprivileged and more at risk of certain diseases.

Meanwhile, screening tests, particularly those of breast, prostate, cervix and colorectal cancers, which have proved effective, need to be reviewed. The EU study makes it quite clear that most people will not take the initiative to carry out certain tests.

Due to the obvious consequences of an aging population, Malta should participate wholeheartedly in the EU's aims to upgrade public awareness on the importance of regular health checks and, above all, of the importance of making the right choices in the way we live.

This is the only way to make a significant improvement in the percentage of people who not only just feel well but also enjoy good health.