A diploma in health and health care management, launched by the Malta Institute of Management (MIM) yesterday, should lead to the country having more trained professionals.

MIM chairman Reuben Buttigieg stressed the importance of a workforce that excels in the management of hospitals and clinics, which together with the country's geopolitical location should turn it into an attraction for private investment, both local and foreign.

The one-year diploma, leading to a Masters' programme, is a joint effort between the institute and the University of Birmingham, and is aimed at medical professionals who want to attain managerial positions.

Speaking during a business breakfast yesterday, Mr Buttigieg said it was important to mitigate the brain drain that has weakened the medical community.

"We need to attract more students to the professions and particularly develop in them strong management skills.

"We need to constantly promote continuous education not only in the profession per se, but also in management."

Chris Ham, from the University of Birmingham, said health care systems will not survive by doing more of the same. New models of prevention and care were needed.

"New thinking is also required on the healthcare workforce."

There is today increased competition for staff in the global market, he said.

Prof. Ham mentioned the importance of primary health care, saying that the rise in chronic diseases means that while hospitals remain important, they are no longer at the centre of the health care system.

He underscored the fact that most care is self-care, something that health care systems have been slow to recognise.

The major burden comes from chronic diseases, he noted, adding that while health care professionals may only interact with chronic patients for a few hours a year, the rest of the time, patients care for themselves.

Health Minister Louis Deguara pointed out that the scarcity of health care workers was being felt worldwide, making the workforce in demand.

The government has come forward with a number of policies to address human capital issues, including the provision of more attractive working conditions with pay linked to performance and the development of structured specialist post-graduate training programmes, he said.

Labour health spokesman Michael Farrugia said investing in human capital was an important prerequisite for economic growth. It was important to not only speak about new buildings, but to have the necessary human resources available.

Saint James Group chairman Josie Muscat mentioned the "acute" shortage in human resources as well as work-permit problems when recruiting from outside the EU.

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