Environment and health performance review : Malta

Abstract

This report describes and evaluates the current environment and health situation in Malta. It evaluates the strong and weak points of the national environmental and health status and presents recommendations from independent experts. The conclusions and recommendations are based on a detailed environment and health performance review carried out in the country. The review identified the most important environment and health problems, evaluated the public health impact of environmental exposure and reviewed the policy and institutional framework, taking into account the institutional set-up, the policy setting and legal framework, the degree and structural functioning of intersectoral collaboration and the available tools for action. The WHO Regional Office for Europe developed this project to follow up the commitments made by Member States at the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Budapest in June 2004 to reduce children’s exposure to environmental hazards. The project was designed to provide the evidence base for developing and implementing such action. The environment and health performance reviews are country based interdisciplinary assessments the WHO Regional Office for Europe carries out at the request of Member States. Through the environment and health performance reviews, Member States receive support in reforming and upgrading the overall public health system.