STI notifications nearly quintuple as screening demand rises

Sexually transmitted infection notifications in Malta rose from 262 in 2015 to 1,307 in 2025, while visits to genitourinary services increased from 3,969 to 7,461. Chlamydia accounted for 512 notifications last year, followed by 388 for gonorrhoea, 246 for syphilis and 122 for Mycoplasma genitalium. Two asymptomatic patients seeking routine tests reported waits of six and nine weeks. Health authorities said urgent symptomatic cases normally receive appointments within one or two days and that diagnostic window periods and missed appointments also affect scheduling. Notifications do not necessarily represent unique patients.