Professional medical journal publications in Malta

Abstract

After the establishment of freedom of the press in 1839, the Maltese medical community initiated the publication of a medical journal in their efforts to maintain professional standards through continuing medical education. The first initiatives unfortunately were often relatively short-lived due to a number of factors. These initiatives were often undertaken by individuals and were often dependant on paid subscription for their maintenance. Longer lasting publications required a change in management policies. The second half of the twentieth century saw the first long-lasting initiative being undertaken by the medical student association; this journal’s financial support being dependant on income from advertisements. Twenty years later, the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery initiated a professional journal. These two journals have since changed their name and editorial policies but are still extant in the current publications Murmur and the Malta Medical Journal.