The European Commission has approved support by the European Regional Development (ERDF) Fund for a major project to develop a specialised Oncology Centre, as an extension of the public general Mater Dei hospital in Msida, and is expected to benefit the entire island population. The project comes under the “Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life” EU regional policy programme, and will lead to the investment of EUR nearly EUR 60 million of EU and national contributions combined.

Commenting on the approval, Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn stated, “I am delighted to see that the green light has been given to this excellent facility, which will benefit the lives of so many of Malta’s citizens. Figures show that cancer accounts for some 25 % of deaths in Malta and we must use EU investment to achieve concrete results and move in the right direction.”

The so-called “major projects” whose total public funding is above EUR 50 million are subject to a specific decision by the European Commission (other types of projects are approved at the national or regional level). The ERDF will invest EUR 41.5 million in the Msida Oncology Centre – making up 85 % of the total cost of this project.

More information The new building will have four functional spaces:

(i) in-patient areas: adult oncology (32 beds in total, +5 by the project)

palliative care (+16 beds)

paediatric and adolescent oncology (increase from 6 to 10 beds)

haematology wards (transfer 16 beds from Mater Dei Hospital)

radioisotope unit;

(ii) out-patient areas: 12 oncology out-patient clinics (8 added by the project);

(iii) diagnostic and treatment areas: radiotherapy department, day care (expansion from 10 to 22 patient couches), general anaesthesia procedure facilities;

(iv) space for plant and hospital support services, including clinical support services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, psychology) and non clinical support services.

The following additional investments in contemporary technologies to lower the dependence on fossil fuels and thus achieving a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere (approximately 1,265 tons per year) form part of the project: – energy recovery on the fresh air ventilation system – photovoltaic panels on the roof – rain water collection – collection and treatment of waste water.

Commissioner Hahn visited Malta in October last year.

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