Born in 1975 on the sister island of Gozo, Dr Abela pursued his undergraduate studies in Malta graduating as Doctor of Medicine and Surgery in 1999. He trained in general surgery in Malta (1999-2003) and the United Kingdom (2003-2010) and his sub-specialist research interests are Barrett’s Oesophagus and oesophago-gastric cancer. His post-doctoral thesis focuses on endoscopic surveillance and endoscopic procedures to treat early cancer and prevent invasive progression. Back in Malta in 2013, he pioneered minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robotic) for oesophago-gastric and pancreatic conditions. In March 2022 he contested the general elections, was elected to Parliament and was appointed Minister for Active Ageing. He expanded clinical services in care homes including screening programmes for stroke risk factors, impaired vison and oesteoporosis, oversaw the introduction of new raft of initiatives in community care, established the Older Person Standards Authority (OPSA) and enacted new older person care legislation. As of January 2024, Health was added to his portfolio. Dr. Abela is pushing for radical reforms in Emergency Services, mental health care, health infrastructure and procurement.
