The government’s lack of foresight and of consultations with professional people in cancer care is leading to repeated breakdowns in the old X-ray machine at Boffa hospital. Patients have had their appointment cancelled twice in a week because of the machine’s failures, Labour MP Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, party spokesperson for health, said. The machine broke down again yesterday.

In spite of the government’s promises, it is lagging behind in building the oncology centre, has ignored the advice of specialists in the sector and Boffa hospital cannot meet the demand for patient care.

Dr Coleiro Preca said it is shameful that the government was interested in spending millions in projects which do not translate into productive work, rather than investing in creating the capacity needed for urgent cancer care.

The health ministry replied that no one can forecast a machine’s breakdown. Patients today were using a new X-ray machine at Boffa hospital, being used jointly with the machine which was used before. The new machine will be transferred to the oncology centre when this is completed, the ministry said.

The centre is being built exactly to improve the cancer care service. The Opposition has no political vision, the ministry added.