Swiss government to foot most of PET scanner cost

Switzerland will be footing most of the bill for a new cancer scanner at Mater Dei Hospital, contributing €1.8 million of the €2.5 million cost.

The health authorities yesterday signed an agreement with the Swiss government to buy a Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography scanner.

The PET scanner is an invaluable diagnostic instrument as it shows how tissues are functioning and allows doctors to see whether there are any live cancer cells. In this way it helps doctors decide which treatment to opt for.

Describing the agreement as "extremely important", Health Minister Joe Cassar pointed out that Malta's EU membership made it possible because Switzerland was working closely with EU countries.

It was also a historical moment for the Maltese health sector, which would soon have its own PET scanner, he added. However, it was too early to say when patients might be able to start using the scanner as there would now be a tendering process, he said.

The health authorities will be given a helping hand by Swiss experts and radiologists will eventually be trained at a Swiss cancer research centre.

Meanwhile, patients using the national health service can make use of a PET scanner at the private Saint James Hospital following a temporary agreement signed recently between the hospital and the government. Five patients have made use of the service in the past two weeks. Without the agreement, they would have had to go abroad for treatment at their own expense, Dr Cassar said.

The agreement with the Swiss was signed by Marlene Bonnici, from the Office of the Prime Minister and Switzerland's Ambassador, Bernardino Regazzino in the presence of Dr Cassar.

Mr Regazzino described the agreement as an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries. It was also an expression of solidarity to improve cohesion within the EU.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party yesterday reiterated its call for the government to explain what became of the money originally allocated to build oncology and dermatology units at Mater Dei Hospital.