A group of Maltese doctors, led by family doctor Christopher Deguara, has launched a new medical portal, www.doctor.mt, to help ease the current strain on Malta’s healthcare system and its human resources caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The health professionals teamed up with Cyberspace founder and CEO Tony Cassar to make the portal a reality, through which the public can make use of a temporary free online platform, to access correct and updated medical information and receive direct and free medical advice on their mobiles.

Dr Deguara explained that the portal will help ensure people remain indoors, while also reducing the load on Malta’s health services which are presently struggling to keep up with increased demand. “This initiative also reduces the risk of contagion and being free of charge, lessens the financial burden of our families during the present crisis.”

Patients will need to create an account on the portal and subsequently make use of its services – either to obtain medical information or request a consultation with a doctor. Requests can be logged at any given time, where a team of specialists working from home will reply to requests between 8.30am and 8.30pm.

Dr Deguara explained, “the project is being totally funded by sponsors and we are all truly grateful that they believed in this initiative to offer a free private medical service to the whole of Malta.”

This platform also received the distinguished Patronage of His Excellency the President of Malta, George Vella, who is also a specialist in family medicine by profession.