360 cataract operations in two months
Government shortens cataract waiting list by 360 in two months following agreement with private hospitals.
In a bid to shorten Mater Dei’s long list for the removal of cataracts, government had reached an agreement with private hospitals. Patients can now undergo surgery for free in private hospitals.
Health Minister Joe Cassar said that in just two months, 360 cataracts operations have been carried out: 136 at St James Hospital (Capua) and 248 at Mater Dei.
In total, 1,014 cataract operations have been carried out by August.
“The agreement reached between government and the private hospitals allows government to pay for such surgeries at a reasonable price,” Cassar said today.
“In fact, each operation at the private hospitals costs less than that carried out at Mater Dei.”
Patients are being contacted by the Health Ministry according to who has been waiting for the longest, Cassar said.
The Minister added that in the coming days a new agreement will be announced whereby waiting lists for other medical tests would be shortened.
