The Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) was set up under the Medical (Gibraltar HealthAuthority) Act 1987 and its purpose is to provide health care to our approximately 30,000 residents in Gibraltar. Through the GHA we in Gibraltar enjoy high standards of health and health care.

The GHA is modelled on the NHS in the United Kingdom and employs around 1000 staff, annually handling thousands of in-patients, out-patients and GP visits with an annual budget of around £100m.

St Bernard’s Hospital provides both in-patient and out-patient services and the A&E department sees around 37,000 patients each year. There are 212 beds in the hospital with a maternity unit, paediatric ward, surgical wards, medical wards, critical care unit, operating theatres, radiology, pathology, rehabilitation, ambulance and CSSD services amongst others. Two wards are managed by the Elderly Care Agency.

Visits by consultants from the United Kingdom covers certain specialties that are not provided by staff permanently employed in Gibraltar. These include, for example, Paediatric Neurology, Plastic Surgery and Cardio-thoracic Surgery among others. Patients are also referred to hospitals outside Gibraltar in necessary. The GHA’s main sites are the Primary Care Centre, St Bernard’s Hospital, Ocean View Mental Health Facility and the Dementia Day Facility.

The Primary Care Centre has some 20 GPs and sees around 90,000 patients per year. There are also Home Visits and the centre houses child welfare and school medical services, including immunisation and vaccination, the dental clinics and health visitors.

The GHA Group Practice Medical Scheme is a contributary scheme and provides access to free medical treatment to entitled persons. Medicines are currently available at a cost of £2.50 per item on the prescription with a maximum charge of £7.50.