The number of foreign doctors working in Malta is of 53, Health Minister Louis Deguara told Chris Agius.

Almost half this number, 25, are senior registrars in anaesthesia. Five of them have a salary of Lm8,460 a year and 20 have a salary of Lm7,910.

The highest salary is obtained buy four consultants in the neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, haematology and histopathology areas.

47 work at St Luke's, five at the Gozo General Hospital and one at Paul Boffa Hospital.

240 Maltese work in European institutions

There are 240 Maltese persons working in the European institutions, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told Joseph Cassar.

92 work at the European Commission, 58 at the European Parliament, 43 at the European Council, and 32 at the European Court of Justice.

There are six working at the Auditors’ Court, three at Ecosoc, five at the European Central Bank and one at the European Investment Bank.

Tragic deaths

There were 69 tragic deaths in Malta last year, Justice Minister told Adrian Vassallo.

Eleven were caused by traffic accidents and involved only males. There were 24 suicides, 20 involving men and four women, six as a result of overdoses (four men) and 28 caused by other causes.

Cemetery gate to be replaced

The main gate of the Sta Maria Addolorata cemetery will be replaced by a temporary one next week while the present gate, which had suffered from an act of vandalism, is being repaired, Health Minister Louis Deguara told Jose Herrera.

The minister added that an application has been submitted to Mepa to carry out structural and restoration works on the stone gateway to the cemetery.