The Order of Malta’s Grand Master, Fra’ Matthew Festing, received Roselyne Bachelot, French Minister of Health and Sport in the Magistral Palace.

“We need you because the health system requires institutions that respond to citizens’ necessities and the Order of Malta is an exceptional representative,” Mrs Bachelot stated in her address. “We are asking you to work with us on a project that has three phases. The first phase is the democratization of the health system, the second is legislation on unused medicines, which should better answer the needs of those you assist. The third phase concerns the ageing of the population and the need to find innovative solutions, such as assistance to Alzheimer’s patients”.

The Grand Master described the Order’s commitments in France, “where our associations concentrate their efforts on solidarity interventions with volunteers who help people in difficulties and, at the request of the French government, assist immigrants. The training of ambulance corps and relief workers, the work with mothers and children and the fight against the great endemic diseases, such as AIDS and malaria, are among our priorities. The Ordre de Malte France,” continued the Grand Master, “is also active in Africa and around the Indian Ocean, in India and in south-east Asia as well as in the Middle East, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon”.

A cordial meeting in which the Grand Master stressed the strong bonds “rooted in time” between France and the Order of Malta. Citing the French Knights’ contributions to the Order, the Grand Master recalled the 46 French Grand Masters and the numerous ambassadors currently active in the Order of Malta’s diplomatic service.

During the meeting the Grand Master conferred the decoration of the Grand Cross al Merito Melitense on Minister Roselyne Bachelot