The Linear Accelerator at Boffa Hospital is working normally and patients should call for their radiotherapy sessions as planned, the Health Department said.

The department said repairs to the equipment were made some days ago.

It criticised the Leader of the Opposition for comments which, it said, reflected a lack of sensitivity for patients.

The department said that excavation works on a new Oncology Centre at Mater Dei Hospital were being taken in hand while a new course in radiology was opening at the University. Both initiatives would benefit cancer patients.

The PL in a reaction to the department's statement said it was not true that the Leader of the Opposition had given the impression that the linear accelerator was out of order. It pointed out, however, that the equipment had been out of order more than once in the past three weeks and patients' appointments had to be called off.