More than 21,500 operations were carried out at Mater Dei Hospital in the first six months of the year, more than 900 procedures than the same period last year, the health authorities said yesterday.

An average of 119 operations were being carried out each day, including weekends.

Operating theatres were busiest in March when 3,762 operations were carried out.

Last year, 41,794 operations were carried out at the general hospital, compared with 32,820 in 2007 – the last year of operation at St Luke’s Hospital.

Figures released in Parliament in June showed there were 13,502 pending operations at Mater Dei Hospital.

The longest list is for the removal of cataracts, with 4,752 procedures still to be carried out. The list also includes 1,748cardiac interventions.

The authorities said the government had introduced various measures to reduce hospital waiting lists by increasing staff and extending operating hours.

Last week, the government announced an outsourcing agreement with two private hospitals – Saint James Hospital and St Anne’s Clinic – where cataract operations will be carried out. According to an EU directive, which must become part ofMaltese law by October 2013, the government will pay for overseas treatment if certain criteria are met. The health authorities will have to allow such treatment abroad when a patient is entitled to healthcare that cannot be provided within a time-limit that is medically justifiable.