ESF 4.175: Capacity Building for Medical Physics Services in Malta

The project provided Masters Degree in Medical Physics at the University of Malta. Medical Students had to follow a two year clinical placement abroad to specialize in one major specialty: Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine or Radiation Oncology. The proposed training programme was approved by the European Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics.

• To develop a structured education and training programme for Medical Physicists to EU/EFOMP standards• To ensure that the medical physics profession in Malta will continue to grow and to provide the needed support to society and individuals. • To set up the basis for the establishment of the Medical Physics Department within MHEC and also for the private sector• To foster the quality of the services provided by the Health department ensuring that available techniques and equipment are properly used and optimised to support patients.

The results of the project are as follows:Result 1: Shorten the E&T period as approved by the EFOMP and ‘Guidelines on the Medical Physics Expert’ from 4 to 2.5 yearsResult 2: Decreasing the HR gap for Medical Physicists and Medical Physics Experts in the local labour marketResult 3: Increasing number of Radiotherapy sessions Result 4: Increasing number of Nuclear Medicine sessions Result 5: Increasing number of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology sessions Result 6: Cost Saving per Student as from end of ProjectResults - Gozo- as a result of the higher number of medical physicists, offer services to Gozo in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Physics

• Develop staff expertise through post-graduate training at MSc (EQF Level 7) in medical physics.• Build the required human capital required to sustain current developments in Health care including the New Oncology Centre at MDH and develop a Medical Physics department. • Maintain a high quality health care service to the Maltese Population up to European Standards.