PRESS RELEASE BY THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR YOUTH, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Research and innovation are part of the foundation of Malta Vision 2050 – During inaugural national physiotherapy conference

An investment in scientific evidence to enhance patient care and quality of life 

Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti addressed the conference ‘Celebrating Maltese Physiotherapy: Advances in Clinical Practice’. This event was organized by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth, Research and Innovation in collaboration with the Department of Physiotherapy within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Malta.

This conference, being held for the first time, represents a historic milestone that showcases the profession's central role in the healthcare sector. It provides a unique platform to spotlight the extensive research efforts of MSc and PhD candidates alongside the department’s academic experts. The primary goal of the conference is to facilitate knowledge exchange and translate academic findings into direct clinical practice for the benefit of patients.

In his intervention, Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti stated, “Through this research, we are directly responding to the national call for a knowledge-based economy. As we look toward Malta Vision 2050, our national compass is shifting to measure not just economic growth, but quality of life, and there is no quality of life without the physical well-being that this profession provides.” He added that this event reinforces the visibility of physiotherapy as an integral discipline in chronic disease management and health promotion across the country.

On his part, the Head of the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Malta, Dr John Xerri De Caro, emphasized the importance of collaboration between academia and the clinical sector. He stated that, “This conference is a testament to the maturity and ambition of our profession in Malta. By bringing together academic research and practical experience, we are ensuring that the care our patients receive is based on the most recent scientific evidence. Investing in our students and researchers is not just an investment in education, but a direct investment in the health of the Maltese and Gozitan people.”

During the conference, several innovative projects were presented, including the TERESA digital tool for the elderly, the use of Immersive Virtual Reality in rehabilitation, and preventative care studies that help reduce the burden on the national health infrastructure.

Through this initiative, the Government and the University of Malta are ensuring that Maltese research does not only follow international trends but leads them, while ensuring that the profession remains a pillar for the nation's productivity and future.