The government has, as of this month, started paying the flight fare for patients travelling abroad for care, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced on Friday morning.

Addressing a press conference at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, Mr Fearne said that while the government had in the past paid the fares of children, adults receiving treatment abroad and who did not qualify for assistance were forced to fork out money for the flights.

“As of this month, this is no longer the case and any patient that requires specialised treatment abroad will benefit from free tickets,” Mr Fearne said, noting that those who travel for care abroad are not only burdened with their illness and being away from their family but also with financial problems.

The measure will cost the government a quarter of a million euros, he said.
Every year, there are some 800 cases that need to be treated abroad, Mr Fearne went on, adding that some 150 of these are children. A third of the cases are cancer related while a further third are ophthalmology patients. A good number of patients are treated for heart conditions as well as neurological ones.