A new company, Medical Plus, will enter into an arrangement with orthopaedic specialists at Mater Dei Hospital in a bid to slash waiting times.
Through the pilot project, the parties are committed to increasing the number of operations completed during their normal working day and continuing in their spare time, including over weekends.
The medicines shortage was being addressed, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said, with the number of out-of-stock products having dropped from 130 to five.
A strategy focused on stock control practices that determine when and how much medicine is procured
The central procurement and supplies unit detects in real time whenever stocks reach a critical level. “This is the result of a strategy focused on stock control practices that determine when and how much medicine is procured. Fragmentation of stocks, which characterised the way stock management was being undertaken, will be decreased.”
The pharmacy of your choice system continued to make strides ahead, with an increase of 43,000 beneficiaries, such that the total number now exceeds 128,000. The IT system has been further extended and includes medicines issued through the pink and grey cards.
For the year 2015, the government plans to import new medicines for the treatment of diabetes and review the entitlement criteria for various medicines.
Next year, the government will be introducing a scheme for cervical cancer screening.
The oncology ward, which will be christened the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, will start accepting its first outpatients in the coming weeks. Works there are to be completed in the coming months.
A new health centre will be built to cater to Żurrieq and Qrendi residents. The government also plans to build new facilities to enable specialised care within the community, including rehabilitation, therefore freeing up Mater Dei to cater solely for acute cases.
Three major studies will be undertaken: the European health interview survey (which has just been kick-started), a study on the food consumed by the Maltese and research on diabetes in Malta.
Plans are under way to carry out further research among parents on sexual health.
The government is planning to develop a centre dedicated to research on blood transfusion and various tissues. Among other facilities, plans are under way to establish a medical hub at the Schreiber Ground, also known as Pace Grasso, Paola.
The government is evaluating the possibility of introducing assistance for transgender people who wish to undergo gender-reassignment surgery.