All cancer treatments currently being offered at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital will be offered from the new oncology hospital as from August, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Chris Fearne, said this evening.

Speaking in the series of public consultation meetings being held at Castille, he said delays in this project would cost taxpayers and additional €22 million.

By the time the hospital would open for in-patients some of the equipment would have become almost obsolete, he said. For this reason, new linear accelerators had to be purchased.

Dr Fearne also announced that the list of free medicines had been revised to include a new range of diabetes products which were in demand.

Commenting on other areas within his ministry he said that  by the end of the year some 200 couples would have benefited from the free IVF services.

It was also announced that an agreement had been reached with the Malta Football Association to lay a football pitch at Mount Carmel Hospital. 

Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi said the concrete scandal was only the tip of the iceberg involving the health sector. He said that in recent weeks more people had approached the ministry with new allegations of wrongdoing including pending payments.

Mr Mizzi said these cases had been referred to the police for further investigation.

The Energy Minister urged those who were aware of further cases to come forward and seek protection through the Whistleblower Act.