Opposition health spokesman Claudio Grech this afternoon called for increased investment in cancer personnel and improved access to cancer mediation.

Addressing a news conference after a meeting with the Boffa Hospital management, Mr Grech  called for a review of the protocols in place for the assignment of cancer medication saying this should not be exclusively dependent on a patient’s financial situation.

“Families are often forced to pay thousands of euros every month to finance cancer treatment. It is time for a discussion on how we assign these medications,” he said.

The migration of patients to the new Oncology Centre he said, would start at the end of the year stretching into next year’s first quarter, nearly a year after it was due.

The €60million hospital, he said, was meant to be opened last spring. It is mostly funded by EU.