Podiatry in Malta - A Brief History

Podiatry in Malta is still a relatively new profession. From the start, the Department of Health decided to adopt the term Podology in keeping up with the rest of Europe at that time except for the United Kingdom where the term Chiropodist was than used. The Department of Health – the main health-regulating body within the Government of Malta - organised the first course in Podology. The School of Medical Podology opened its doors to the first cohurt of students on 20th December, 1982.The school was the brainchild of the late Professor John Buontempo, who was one of the only two chiropodists practicing on the island of Malta at that time.

As from the beginning, a high academic level was maintained during the course of studies, with the Podology students often sitting for the same lectures as medical students. Profs Buontempo retired, and was replaced by a British chiropodist of South African descent, Mr. M.M. Chetty, who had been sent over by the Commonwealth Secretariat for the purpose of finishing the course.

During early 1985, the students had their first clinical practice inside the Skin Outpatients clinic, at Boffa Hospital, where a Podology Service was first provided to the public. However, it was in late 1985, under Mr Chetty’s directions, that the Podology Department inside St. Luke's Hospital G'Mangia was initially set up.The first available premises was a large room adjacent to the Dental Department on the second floor of the Outpatients’ Block at St Luke’s Hospital. The room was divided into four cubicles with a central reception and a small staff room. The service offered inside this department was very efficient and thus lead to a large turnout of clients.

The first cohurt of nine students qualified in March 1986. These were all employed by the Health Department and a second course started. As from the start, Podology was a profession by Maltese law and was represented by two podologists on the Board of Professions supplementary to Medicine.

Since the premises of the Podology Department were quite small to cater for the growing number of patients using the service, a new premises was made available. Because of Malta’s high incidence of Diabetes, a Diabetes Foot Clinic was set up to cater for the needs of the high risk patient.

In 1989, Mr Chetty’s contract expired and his place was taken by a Maltese Podiatrist Mr Alfred Gatt in 1990, who was offered the post of Principal Podologist. The Service expanded, and extended to all Government Hospitals, including St Vincent de Paule Residence, Boffa Hospital, Mt Carmel Hospital and Gozo General Hospital. Clinics inside all major Health Centres were also set up. This move to the community was so successful that in 1994 the whole department was shifted over to the Primary Health Care Department.

In 1993 another Diploma course opened at the Institute of Health Care, University Of Malta, followed by another two diploma course in 1994 and 1995. By the year 2000, all the Health Centres in Malta had available one Podology clinic, with some even having two. A Rheumatology Foot Clinic was also set up at the Medical Out Patients department. Since January 2002, a Podogeriatric team at St Vincent de Paule Residence, started offering the service to all government old peoples’ homes and day centres.

The main Podology Department is situated at the B’Kara Civic Centre with Mr. Alfred Gatt as Manager of the Department and Mr. Andrew Scicluna is Principal Podologist, but also manages the new Podogeriatric Service. There are also five Assistant Principals and a number of Senior Podologist in the Podology hierarchy.

Podiatry is today a growing profession and offers its service to over 60,000 people annually. Nowadays the Department alone handles over 60,000 cases annually. There are 34 podologists employed by the Health Department and this service is also available in the private sector all over the island.