Cancer has become a frequent topic in the Maltese press but do we really know what are the main causes of cancer in Malta? Cancer research in Malta is still in its infancy.
The government funded the Cancer Research & Innovation Hub with the project being launched in 2024 in collaboration with the University of Malta. The government is currently funding up to €1 million in cancer research every year. Earlier in 2017, President Marie Louise Colieor-Preca help found the Emanuele Cancer Research Foundation which is still active. The public entity Xjenza Malta, is also issuing up to €300,000 for research projects on cancer.
Malta recorded the lowest rate for death by cancer in the EU in 2021 according to some of the latest EU statistics issued in 2022. According to data compiled for the World Health Organisation, the leading cause of death in Malta is cardiovascular (heart and circulatory) disease accounting for 1,211 deaths (28.6% of all deaths). In 2022 Malta recorded up to 2,855 new cases of cancer with 300 of the cases being breast cancer. The incidence rate was recorded at 282.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. You can also find the annual mortality rate for 2022 here.
A Maltese cancer patient with a rare leukemia variant has currently been flown successfully to China for experimental treatment.
Newsroom
Leave a Reply