The waiting list for the hip and knee replacement operations were drastically reduced since the government agreed to pay these operations carried out at private hospitals.

Minister for Health, Mr Chris Fearne said that the waiting list for hip and knee replacement had peaked at 1,700 and the waiting time even reached the eight years. With operations paid by the government being carried out in private hospitals, the number was reduced to 770. Waiting time was also reduced from 8 years to 1 and a half years.

Speaking after a visit at St James hospital in Sliema, the Minister explained that the target is to reach 800 operations paid by the government and carried out at private hospitals. He said that some 450 people already benefitted from the government's agreement with private hospitals.

St James hospital CEO Maria Bugeja explained that the hospital will be providing other major operations. She said the hospital always invested in the latest technology and insisted that the government and private must work together to provide the best service for the public.

Minister Fearne said that the move from St Lukes to Mater Dei helped to increase the number of operations. However, as it was predicted, the beds provided at Mater Dei were still not sufficient to the increasing Maltese population.

He said that 500 people were operated since operations started being carried out also on Sundays, while another 500 were carried out in the Mosta Health Centre. "This means that some 1,000 people were reduced from the waiting list," he added.

Photo: Jonathan Borg