Three projects which in total have a value of €7.6 million will be used to better human resources, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced this morning.

Accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary for EU funding and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia in a press coverage, Fearne explained that the three projects will focus on research, and training to employees as well as covering scholarship costs for ten students to pursue courses abroad which are not yet available in Malta, with the aim to result in better services. The projects have already began.

The first project, 'Non-Technical skills training for Healthcare Personnel' has the objective to build a positive attitude towards carers in the health sector, offering training to 6000 individuals; a project which has a value of €3.3 million.

The second project 'Developed Allied Health Capacity to Sustain Health Care Needs' has a value of €2.1 million euro and will go towards training in specialized sectors such as those of eye examinations and prosthetics, Fearne explained. The training will be provided to 10 students who will take the majority of training in Universities abroad at Bachelor's Degree Level.

Farrugia explained that a public call will be issued for applications and there will be a campaign to entice trainees that have a sixth form education.

The third project, Establishing a National Platform to Address Social Determinants of Health will be training provided to 700 individuals who work in the health sector with the objective of creating a platform in order to determine how social dimensions affect health.

"Research on this needs to be done locally as social dimensions differ from place to place and therefore you cannot rely on the research done in another country," said Fearne.

Asked by The Malta Independent whether he agrees with Malta Association for Medicine's (MAM) statement that the public perceive medical marijuana as a wonder drug, Fearne stated that despite what anyone believes, the law will make sure that the drug is only acquired by prescription.

The three projects form part of the EU Fund Programmes 2014-2020.