Government today issued a call for expressions of interest for major surgeries to be carried out in private hospitals.

This process will lead to the delivery of 400 major surgeries mainly focusing on knee and hip replacements and all related services which will be performed directly by the private sector. These services will be funded by the Ministry for Energy and Health at no cost to the patients.

This initiative forms part of the Ministry’s programme to address waiting lists for surgeries that have accumulated over the years. Patients who have been waiting longest on the waiting lists of the Department of Health will be targeted by this initiative.

Government’s Waiting List initiative includes measures to increase internal hospital productivity, leasing of theatre space from the private sector, introduction of new technologies which facilitate interventions, or allow interventions which used to require patients to be admitted to hospital to be carried out as day cases, amongst others.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne said:  "Waiting lists deny people in need of medical services from having access to the services they need. We believe not only in having an excellent health service but also one which is accessible in a timely and safe fashion. This initiative, in tandem with others and in collaboration with health care professionals will dent the orthopaedic waiting list in a significant fashion."