The Health Ministry denied Labour candidates’ claims Malta had one of the EU’s highest cancer rates, saying it is second lowest.

The issue arose in a political meeting in Marsaxlokk when a woman told Joseph Muscat three relatives had died of cancer, eight of her nine grandchildren suffered from asthma and another child had cancer. It was picked up by PL candidates in a discussion show.

Dr Muscat was also wrong about asthma, the ministry said. European studies showed the south of Malta had the asthma lowest rate – 5.7 per cent for men, against an 6.8 per cent average, and seven per cent for women compared with the average of 8.1 per cent, it added.

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