Patients suffering from certain complex diseases and in need of specialised care will be referred to special Italian centres and hospitals under agreements signed yesterday between Malta and Italy.

The Health Ministry described the deal as historic. They build upon a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in 2009.

The agreements cover the diagnosis and highly specialised treatment of Maltese patients in Italy, the exchange of medical information and research, specialist training for Maltese and Italian health care professionals, and joint participation in medical networks and research programmes.

Some Maltese patients requiring lung transplants have already benefited from treatment and assessment in Sicily, the ministry said.

The agreements were signed between Health Minister Joe Cassar and his Italian counterpart Renato Balduzzi, as well as the Health Commissioners of the Lombardy Region, the Sicilian Region and the Tuscany Region.

The ministry said it was also working to set up a similar collaborative programme for the treatment of kidney-pancreas conditions in Pisa, and patients have already been sent for assessment and treatment in Milan.

“These agreements confirm our commitment in continuing to work for the benefit of the Maltese patient and the Maltese public,” the ministry said.