1 comment.Gozo MRI tests to start being carried out in coming days – Ministers
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The first MRI tests in Gozo will start being carried out in the coming days. The Government said that approximately 3,000 people resident in Gozo will be benefiting from it per year, thereby helping to bring MRI waiting times down.
This was announced during a visit to the Gozo General Hospital of Gozo by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Funds, Equality, Reforms and Social Dialogue Chris Fearne, Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela and Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri.
As already advised, the long-awaited MRI machine was finally installed at the Gozo General Hospital last month.
During the visit, Minister Chris Fearne explained that medical consultants order around a thousand MRI tests a week for various conditions and this MRI machine in Gozo will be helpful both for the Gozitan professionals and patients.
He stated that the investment of €1.3 million European Funds from the React EU Fund will allow them to continue increasing the technological tools with which health professionals can offer the best care to patients.
Minister Jo Etienne Abela said that, “today we are seeing another promise come true for the Gozitan people. What we are announcing today is part of the investment that the Government is making for health care in Gozo.”
Minister Clint Camilleri stated that, “this is another promise fulfilled where the Gozitan people will be able to be served in Gozo itself.”
I, and surely the multitude of Gozitans are very happy by what Minister Hon. Jo Etienne Abela is doing for us all. The residents living on the main island, now also have their waiting list shortened. MRI is but a tool, an excellent tool for that! Much better than X-rays to screen patients for cancer, identify tissue injuries and organ dysfunction, and monitor treatment effectiveness.
I was one of the few who expressed my concern that in Gozo, doctors lacked this much important medical instrument and I would like to show my gratitude to gozonews editor, who without hesitation always printed my and that of others’ plea for an MRI in Gozo Including those of Mr. Lino Debono.
Appreciation for their participation goes from all of us to Hon Chris Ferne, Hon Anton Refalo, Hon. Clint Camilleri, P.M. Robert Abela, CEO Joseph Fenech, Mr L. Mizzi and of course Hon Etienne Abela for making this MRI a reality.
Let me conclude by being a little bit brave to say that this should not end here. We are around 44 years late since MRI were available. Let us look and hope for the future to be able to have the possibility to schedule a regular annual full-body MRI scan and take control of your own health and wellbeing.