Nine years ago, Saint Thomas Hospital quietly opened its doors in Qormi. Today, it performs 2,000–2,500 surgeries annually for Malta’s National Health Service – an arrangement unique locally and rare across Europe. MeetInc sat down with Managing Director Ryan Buhagiar and Medical Director Dr Kristen Buhagiar to explore how the hospital balances private agility with public purpose.

‎

“It’s always been about demand,” Ryan explains. “The public system was overstretched. Rather than build new capacity from scratch, the NHS leveraged private operators like us – and patients got quicker access to care.” The model, though unconventional, has proven effective: Saint Thomas now handles everything from day surgeries to complex procedures, easing pressure on Mater Dei Hospital.

‎

Dr Kristen Buhagiar, a medical doctor by training, oversees clinical standards and innovation. “We’ve grown from a small outpatient centre to a multidisciplinary hospital,” she says. “Ophthalmology, orthopaedics, bariatrics – these are now core specialities. We even performed Malta’s first minimally invasive cornea transplant in the private sector.”

‎

That milestone is emblematic of Saint Thomas’s ethos: introducing advanced procedures locally, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad or endure long waiting lists. “Patients used to fly overseas for certain surgeries,” Dr Buhagiar recalls. “Now they can get world‑class treatment here.”

‎

The hospital’s hybrid identity – private but integral to public health delivery – shapes its culture. “We’re smaller than public hospitals, so we can dedicate more time to each patient,” Ryan notes. “From booking to follow‑up, the experience is faster, more personal.”

‎

Covid tested that philosophy. “The pandemic showed our team’s resilience,” Dr Buhagiar reflects. “We adapted overnight – new protocols, new workflows – and still maintained standards. That period cemented our identity as a responsive, mission‑driven institution.”

‎

Demand continues to climb, driven by Malta’s ageing population and medical tourism. “We’re seeing more foreign patients,” Ryan observes. “Tourists, expatriates – they expect rapid service and high standards.” To meet this, Saint Thomas is expanding: new theatres, enhanced pathology, and a trauma service covering everything from minor injuries to complex fractures.

‎

Technology is central to the next phase. “Patients are more informed – AI, online research, second opinions,” Dr Buhagiar says. “They arrive with high expectations. Our job is to match that sophistication without compromising clinical rigour.”

‎

Saint Thomas’s story signals a quiet revolution in Maltese healthcare: public‑private collaboration that boosts capacity, shortens waits, and introduces innovation. “Ultimately, it’s about patient outcomes,” Ryan concludes. “If we can deliver better care, faster, everyone wins.”

‎