Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne and Minister Carmelo Abela visited the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre on the occasion of World Cancer day, where they laid out plans for the recovery from the pandemic, as well as combating cancer.

Due to the pandemic, certain screenings for various types of cancer were stopped, including for intestine cancer, uterus cancer and breast cancer. While intestine and uterus cancer screenings are back to normal, breast cancer screening is slowly reaching the pre Covid-19 numbers.

Fearne commented that the percentage of women who are agreeing to get scanned for breast cancer is on the rise. Compared to the 60% of women who agreed to get scanned in previous years, the recent statistic is more encouraging as 71% of women contacted for a breast screening appointment have agreed to do so.

Fearne went on to explain how part of the costs of curing cancer is the different medicines which one has to make use of. In recent years, Fearne said, 12 different types of pills and medicines were put on the government list of free medicine available for patients. This excludes the number of pills which are given by Community Chest Fund together with funding from the government to patients who require very specific and expensive medicine.

Throughout the previous year, a system known as ‘Nurse Navigator’ was introduced, Fearne said. This system is a guide for patients receiving cancer treatment in Malta to help them throughout the process. This project is being expanded and by the end of the month, 8 nurses will be available for this program.

Abela mentioned the various investments the government has done to alleviate the pressure cancer patients and their families feel. Various campaigns and agreements are being made from the government’s side in order to provide services which will help people battle any sickness, he said.

In the final comments and questions from journalists, various topics such as Covid-19, vaccinations and cancer treatment were discussed.

Fearne said that in Europe, Malta has one of the best rates of curing breast cancer. This is encouraging, he said.

With regards to Covid-19 and the vaccination process, till today 34,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered. The majority of these doses came from the Pfizer vaccine. This is due to the low numbers of the Moderna vaccine available. The Astra Zeneca vaccine is expected to arrive in Malta by Sunday and this will further boost the vaccination process.