The excavation works on the oncology centre at Mater Dei Hospital started yesterday.

Health Minister Joseph Cassar this morning visited the works and said the excavations should be completed within six months.

These would be followed with the building of four bunkers to house three linear accellerators used in cancer treatment. The fourth bunker would be used to service equipment and for treatment purposes in future.

The final phase of the project would be the development, design and building of the centre. The Department of Contracts was currently analysing offers and the tender was expected to be issued within weeks.

Dr Cassar said that the project should cost €59 million including VAT, 85 per cent of which would be funded by the EU.

The centre is being built on a footprint of 5,600 square metres. This would eventually translate into a floor space of 22,000 square metres and 74 beds.

The centre will be linked to the main hospital with an overpath for people and an underpath for services.

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