Twelve midwives and 126 nurses have been employed in the public health sector, the government said in a statement.

Fifty-eight of the nurses were employed at Mater Dei Hospital, 18 at the oncology centre and 19 at Karin Grech Hospital.

Another 23 nurses will be joining the staff at St Vincent de Paul and eight others will be employed in homes for the elderly.

The 12 midwives will be starting their career at Mater Dei Hospital on Monday.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne said that the health sector is undergoing a dynamic process of expansion which includes an investment of €200 million in the Gozo Hospital, the re-opening of St Luke’s Hospital and the modernisation of Karin Grech Hospital.