A new CT simulator that has just been installed at Boffa Hospital’s oncology department is set to provide “a leap in radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients”, chairman of the oncology department Stephen Brincat said during the launch of the simulator yesterday.

“The machine forms part of an integrated computer system, which when connected to a linear accelerator, will have the capacity of providing highest-quality treatment,” said Dr Brincat.

The government will soon be purchasing two linear accelerators costing Lm2 million, said Louis Deguara, Minister for Health, the Elderly and Community Care.

He thanked all the non-governmental organisations that contributed to the purchase of the CT simulator, which cost around Lm400,000 in total.

The Malta Cancer Foundation – which gave the largest donation – contributed Lm91,000 from funds collected during the 2004 Istrina campaign. This was the cancer foundation’s biggest financial project and it was instrumental in the modernisation of the oncology wards. During the past two years, the foundation has also contributed funds for the purchase of CT scans in private clinics. The other contributors were the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Maria Bugeja Cancer Support Foundation.

The new simulator and the linear accelerator will replace the older equipment that has been operating for the past 13 years.

Minister Deguara said due to the fact that space is limited at Boffa Hospital and the number of cancer patients is on the increase, the government has decided to transfer the services to Zammit Clapp hospital.

The services currently offered at Zammit Clapp will then be transferred to a new rehabilitation facility that will be built close to the St Vincent de Paule residence for the elderly.

Dr Deguara said the fact that currently around 49 per cent of cancer patients are cured is encouraging. There is better reason to invest in equipment that will increase the chances of treatment.

He said around 700 new cancer patients start radiotherapy treatment in Malta every year, but this does not reflect the actual number of cancer patients, since there may be many more who might not necessarily be receiving radiotherapy treatment.

Dr Brincat said that by means of the new CT simulator, a scan may be carried out within half a minute and it is capable of producing three-dimensional images.

Together with the linear accelerator, the simulator will provide for better planning of the treatment needed, since a higher dose of radiation may be given without harming the tumour’s periphery, and this increases the possibility of cure.

Dr Brincat added that the new machine may be transferred to Zammit Clapp hospital when oncology services will be transferred from Boffa Hospital.