A third of patients who suffer a sudden heart attack die before reaching hospital although immediate resuscitation could have saved their lives.
Albert Fenech, the head of Mater Dei Hospital's cardiology services, said 20 per cent of those who died suddenly of a cardiac attack would have walked out of hospital had they been resuscitated in time.
This made the availability of defibrillators even more important because they could spell the difference between life and death.
"A defibrillator will shock the heart back into life," Prof. Fenech said, adding that portable defibrillators were the size of a lunchbox and could be used without much training.
A staggering 43 per cent of the 25,000 deaths between 2000 and 2007 were due to cardiac disease, statistics from the National Malta Cancer Registry show.
Equipping public places with the small but potentially life-saving equipment is one of the dreams of the Malta Heart Foundation, which will be officially launched on Friday during the last concert of the International String Orchestra Festival.
"Defibrillators are very important. When deployed properly, they can save lives," cardiac surgeon Alex Manché said.
Mr Manché said the Manoel Theatre, which will receive the first defibrillator during the foundation's launch ceremony, was "admirably suited" for this kind of equipment because more older people tended to go there and it was therefore more likely to be needed.
The brainchild of Jo and Tony Cachia, the foundation was born through their disappointment at the lack of a similar entity. After a friend of theirs needed an expensive pacemaker to control his heartbeat, the couple wanted to make a donation but soon discovered that there was no local heart association. "We decided to set it up ourselves," Mrs Cachia, who will chair the foundation, said.
Together with another group of founding members, including the two renowned physicians, the Cachias have worked hard over the past year to set up the foundation, which was recently registered as a non-governmental organisation. Their efforts were lauded by both Prof. Fenech and Mr Manché.
"It was a spontaneous effort, which is always the best," Prof. Fenech said.
Mrs Cachia said the foundation wanted to offer help and support to patients with cardiac problems and their families, apart from educating the public. Mr Manché said the importance of education could not be underestimated.
"It is my belief that, if the government spent more money on education and less money on direct health costs, we would have a healthier population. The heart foundation, as an NGO, can fill this important gap. I am sure that people, especially past patients who have benefitted from the care we give at hospital, will contribute generously to this worthwhile cause," he said.
"In an age when so much information is bandied about on the media regarding cardiovascular disease, it is astounding to see so many people living an unhealthy lifestyle.
"I still see many patients who say things like 'nobody told me to give up smoking'. Other heart disease risk factors, like diet, exercise and stress, need to be brought to people's attention," Mr Manché said.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi endorsed the launch of the foundation. The concert, during which the launch will take place, will be held under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Mrs Gonzi.
The foundation can be contacted on chloe@maltanet.net.