The Port Health Medical Services (PHMS) is part of the Environmental Health Directorate, of the Department for Health Regulation and carries out its mandate of ensuring health security and safeguarding the well-being of the public through the enforcement of national public health legislation and international obligations.

The PHMS service delivery is performed within 4 functional units and collaborates with relevant stakeholders/agencies to implement and maintain the capacity for early detection and response to public health threats.

These units are:

• Port Health Office
• Airport Health Office
• International Health Regulation National Focal Point
• Migrant Entry Health Screening

Legislation:

The legislation relevant to PHMS includes but is not limited to:

• Public Health (Ships) Regulations (SL) of the Public Health Act
• Prevention of Disease Ordinance and subsidiary legislations
• Drugs (Control) Regulations & DH Circular on Medicinals Imported for Personal Use
• Relevant EC directives and decisions adopted to national legislation
• WHO International Health Regulations

Role & Functions:

The role and functions of PHMS at points of entry as empowered by legislation above includes:

• Monitoring and health control measures of traveller/s from affected countries as may be indicated
• Coordination of the tracing of an exposed contact to potential infectious traveller/s
• Monitoring of conveyance services, embarking/disembarking traveller/s of sea/aircraft as required
• Supervision of disinfection, decontamination, disinsection or other control measures as may be required
• Control and advice customs on importation of medicinal products.
• International Health Regulation National Focal Point and implementation at points of entry

Links to related websites:

Malta International Airport
International Health Regulations 
Malta Freeport
Valletta Cruise Port