(Adds ministry's reply)

Chemotherapy services were urgently needed in Gozo to prevent Gozitans having to cross over to Malta to receive this service, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses said.

In a statement, it said that it first made its appeal more than two months ago but the Gozitan ministry was still studying the situation.

"This shows the lack of commitment for the provision of such a humanitarian service to Gozitans.

"The Maltese government has recently shown more inclination to help the people of Libya."

THE PROVISION OF CHEMOTHERAPY CANNOT BE TREATED LIGHTLY - MINISTRY

The possibility of offering chemotherapy services in Gozo has been discussed between the Gozo and health ministries long before the MUMN’s request.

However, this required substantial planning and the primary consideration was to offer a quality service.

Chemotherapy was a sensitive and delicate process where clients are under observation before, during and after the service and the provision of chemotherapy was not something which should be treated lightly.

The government would take the advice of professionals as to whether it would be beneficial or not for chemotherapy to be given in Gozo. This was not an administrative decision, as the MUMN tried to imply but a clinical and sensitive one which had to be considered carefully.