Cancer patients will be provided with better care through the introduction of ‘nurse navigators’ who will be assisting in their medical care in order to prevent them from being lost in the system. 

Parliamentary secretary for health Chris Fearne announced this while visiting the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, together with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. They both visited to mark World Cancer Day, which is tomorrow, 4 February.  

Dr Fearne said that this year, the National Plan for Cancer will be launched which is based on three main pillars: prevention, improved services and research. 

“We are entering an era of personalised medicines, and Malta will be at the forefront of this new type of healthcare,” he said. 

“Nurse navigators are one of the ways in which excellent healthcare services will be made more accessible, in a timely manner. Inclusive of this, there are a number of screening programmes being offered. Fast track services are also being offered for those people who are unsure of bowel problems, allowing the family doctor to directly refer the patient for tests,” he added.