Steady increase in number of patients sent for treatment overseas

1,560 Maltese patients were sent to the United Kingdom and Italy between 2008 and 2012. The majority of patients, 1548, were sent to the UK; 16 were sent to Monza in Italy and six to Palermo.

Health Minister Joe Cassar, in reply to a question raised by PN MP Karl Gouder in parliament, also gave a yearly breakdown. The numbers increased steadily over the years.

Patients sent to the UK

Year                                                       Patients

2008                                                       279

2009                                                       296

2010                                                       306

2011                                                       314

2012 (January - October)                 343

Patients sent to Italy (January - October 2012)

Monza (Cardiac MRI)                      16

Palermo (ISMETT)                            6

 The agreement with Monza was reached earlier this year where Maltese patients could now undergo cardiac MRI at an Italian hospital.