More than Lm1 million have been invested by the Saint James Hospital Group in a fully fledged private cardiac unit in one of its hospitals.
During a visit to the hospital in Sliema, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was shown a state-of-the-art "angio" suite, where angiographies and angioplasties are performed.
He was also taken round the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, a special ward that deals with patients who need support for their major organs.
Group chairman Josie Muscat said that in the two-and-a-half years since the group took over the Sliema hospital, it invested around Lm2 million, while around Lm3.5 million were paid in wages to the 365 employees.
The hospital is now equipped to perform open-heart surgery. Kevin Schembri, the head of the cardiac unit at Saint James Hospital, said two have already been performed.
Mr Schembri said the fact that a private hospital was offering cardiac services in Malta meant that people had a choice. Offering an alternate service would bring about an improvement in the service.
Before the major investment in a cardiac unit by Saint James Hospital Group, local cardiac surgeons could not practice privately, he added.
The opening of the cardiac unit was applauded by both Dr Gonzi and Health Minister Louis Deguara, who stressed the importance of raising awareness about cardiac problems, the biggest cause of morbidity in Malta.
Dr Gonzi spoke about the major steps forward that the country has made in the realm of cardiac surgery in the last decade. He recalled that just over 10 years ago - before the cardiac unit at St Luke's Hospital was set up - cardiac patients had to be sent for treatment in the United Kingdom, with all the difficulties that this brought about for the patient. But in 10 years giant steps forward had been made, and Malta now had very high-level cardiac services.
Dr Muscat said the hospital had made huge steps forward since it started off as a small room in Zabbar, which later became a fully fledged hospital equipped with the best equipment. Over the years Saint James had been a pioneer in several spheres of medical care in Malta.
Two-and-a-half years ago the group took over the hospital in Sliema, despite a number of hurdles. He also stressed that it was not enough to cater for Maltese patients, and the group had made extra efforts to bring over foreign patients. A lot of money had been invested to enable the group to bring over patients from the UK and from the Netherlands, while it had also opened a hospital in Libya. He said 40 per cent of the hospital's income came from foreign patients.
Dr Muscat also mentioned the French cosmetic surgery company which was operating through Saint James Hospital. The company was bringing people from abroad who wanted to have cosmetic surgery in Malta where they are being operated upon by French doctors. There were also Italian doctors operating on their patients at Saint James.
In three weeks' time the hospital is expecting to open an Accident and Emergency Unit.