Another 35 cancer patients will start receiving medicinal treatment for free, Health Minister Chris Fearne said this afternoon.

Enlisting achievements within the health sector since the June election, Dr Fearne said the medicine, called Bevicumab for cervix cancer patients, has joined other medicines that the government is providing for free to cancer patients.

So far, there are three other such medicines on the state's formulary, including one that benefits around 300 bladder cancer patients, and two others that treat leukaemia and prostate cancer patients.

Works on a new health centre at Kirkop costing €750,000 will begin tomorrow and are expected to be completed in six to eight months.

Plans for a €26 million build-in regional hub in Paola are also underway, Fearne said. The 20,000 square metre project is expected to be finished next year.

Free insulin sticks for all diabetic patients also will be introduced next year, continued Fearne.  Type two diabetes patients already benefit from this scheme.