The government plans to open a new health centre in the south of the island to serve the residents of Zurrieq, Qrendi, Mqabba, Safi, Kirkop and other nearby areas. The health centre will most probably be built in Kirkop, where the authorities have already identified a suitable site, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia revealed in an interview with this newspaper.

Dr Farrugia said that, up until now, residents from these towns and villages have to travel all the way to the Paola or Floriana Health Centres when the need arises. “I expect the new health centre to be opened during this legislature,” he told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

He said that a disused building in Kirkop has been earmarked for the project.

Dr Farrugia also explained that in a drive to ease the burden on Mater Dei Hospital, the Health Ministry will be redefining the role of the regional network of health centres. In order to do this, the Health Minister intends to provide more specialised services in the health centres themselves.

“Some services that are offered at the main hospital can also be offered at community level. Blood tests will be offered in six of the nine health centres and the results will be given immediately. This service will be nurse-led, as will be a number of other new treatments offered in health centres. Opening times will also be extended.”

The Health Ministry also intends to strengthen the link between the primary sector and family doctors. This is why the government will issue another call for expressions of interest for family doctors to attend health centres and focus on a particular specialisation, for example diabetes advice. Another pilot project will allow family doctors to follow up on patients suffering from respiratory disease, saving them the trouble of going to Mater Dei each time.

Dr Farrugia also announced that all women will be invited to take part in the cervical cancer screening campaign and that the age brackets for breast cancer screening are to be extended yet again.