Health Minister Louis Deguara yesterday said that the incinerator at St Luke’s Hospital will be closed soon and instead medical waste will be treated at a new waste treatment facility which will be built in Marsa.

Speaking on a programme on radio 101, Dr Deguara said that the new waste management facility will be able to treat waste generated by the hospitals as well as industrial waste and remains from the slaughterhouse. As a result of this state-of-the-art waste treatment facility, the new Mater Dei Hospital – which is expected to be opened in July this year – will not need an incinerator.

Dr Deguara said that this week, WasteServ is expected to submit an application before the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to develop this waste treatment facility in Marsa. He said that this project, like any other waste management mechanism, has to adhere to the stringent rules and regulations and emissions standards of the European Union.

The Health Minister said that the new waste management plant will not process more than 13,000 tonnes of medical, industrial waste and remains from the slaughterhouse every year. He said the government is presently holding discussions with the Austrian government for technical assistance for this new project.

Dr Deguara also spoke about the transfer of operations from St Luke’s Hospital to the new Mater Dei Hospital. He said this transition is expected to take around three months and the government and the health authorities are delving into details so that patients will not be adverse affected by this change.

On the Mater Dei Hospital, Dr Degaura said that new equipment, which has already been purchased, is presently being installed. The medical equipment has been supplied by the Italian contractor Inso Spa which won the tender to supply this equipment which cost the government a total of EURO 63 million.

Dr Deguara said that none of the equipment at St Luke’s Hospital will be transferred to the new hospital. He said that since most of the new equipment is state-of-the-art, staff will be given extensive courses and training required.

He said that like St Luke’s, the staff will be benefiting from a child care centre where they can leave their children while at work. He said that for now, the service will be provided from St Luke’s Hospital until a decision is taken as to where to re-locate this centre.