1. Higher Education in Audiology The Situation in Malta

2. Medical doctor One University, where doctors obtain their primary medical degree, but for a long time post-graduate Medical Education was obtained from Institutions overseas (mainly U.K. but also other countries in Europe and the U.S.). Recent move by the Specialist Accreditation Committee and incentives by the Department of Health to start programmes for Higher Specialist training (catalyst: joining the European Union in 2004). Curriculum for higher specialist training in Otolaryngology presented to Specialist Accreditation Committee and UEMS last October. The Health Care Professions Act(2003), lists Audiology as one of the specialities to be included in the Medical Specialist Register. Two doctors with degrees in Audiological Medicine are appointed to hold Audiology Clinics in the Audiology Outpatients Section (part of the ENT Department).

3. Paramedical staff The University of Malta offers a 4 year BSc Degree in Communication Therapy but no similar degree in Audiology. The Health Care Professions Act(2003), does not list Technical Audiologist or any other Audiology profession under Professions Complimentary to Medicine (whereas Speech and Language pathologist is in the list), but this is likely to be amended in the near future. Two ‘paramedical audiologists’ who obtained their qualifications from the U.K. work in the Audiology Outpatients Section.