The Santo Spirito Hospital in Rabat, which currently houses the national archives, is set to be revamped and opened as a museum of medical history. The archives, meanwhile, are planned to move to a purpose-built building within the Ta’ Qali National Park.

The new archives building is yet to be built, but land has been transferred over to the National Archives in order to get the ball rolling.

The Santo Spirito Hospital was the earliest recorded functioning hospital on the island, having been treating patients since around 1372. The civil hospital treated poor citizens, old members of the community, foundlings left at the ruota (a revolving wheel that allowed parents to abandon their children in secret), as well as general patients from the middle of the 15^th century.

Over the years, its capacity to treat patients grew, and by 1937 it had 34 beds for males and 35 beds for females, with an average of 58 patients daily. Fast forward to 1967, the hospital was closed down after conversations of possible medical revamping fell through. It was later restored and has been housing the National Archives of Malta ever since.

Information about what the new museum of medical history will contain hasn’t been released, but judging by our history of plagues, diseases, and war-time illnesses, the new museum should definitely be an interesting one!