‘COVID-19 helped us accelerate our investment in digital medicine’ – St James Hospital CEO

Maria Bugeja, CEO at Saint James Hospital Operations and Managing Director at Niumee Ltd, is a colourful and energetic leader who’s passionate about helping others – as evidenced by her choice of business.

As the end of February fast approaches, Ms Bugeja retains a rather positive forecast for the rest of the year, despite the fact that 2021 was tarnished by the pandemic.

“COVID-19 has helped us accelerate our investment in digital medicine to offer our patients a more robust, user-friendly, and secure online (telemedicine) platform that can partially replace the physical consultation,” Ms Bugeja notes.

“This will provide an alternative means to being treated by specialists and doctors without the need to leave one’s home or office,” she continues.

Following a rough couple of months, Malta is now experiencing a significant slump in new COVID-19 cases, encouraging authorities to loosen restrictions and quarantine periods.

“The population is feeling more confident and informed about ways to prevent and manage COVID-19. It is only Government restrictions and the migration of a new strain not covered by our existing vaccines that could be a potential economic threat,” Ms Bugeja says.

“The upcoming elections will cause yet another slowdown in the economy,” she concludes.

This article is part of the serialisation of interviews featured in MaltaCEOs 2022 – an annual high-end publication bringing together some of the country’s most influential business leaders.