Bid to cut cataract surgery waiting times by 2016

The health ministry is forecasting more eye cataract operations through added investment in the national health service.

There are 3,195 patients waiting for an eye cataract operation – a waiting list that stretches across two years.

In a statement, the energy and health ministry said it had increased operations through the addition of specialised surgeons. It said that in 2015, the waiting list would go down to one year, and in 2016, to four months as recommended by international standards.

The service is expected to be strengthened in Gozo as well, the ministry said.

Earlier today, parliamentary secretary for health Chris Fearne said on One TV that patients will be issued with the ‘yellow card’ entitling them to free ‘Schedule V’ medicines, on the same day they are visited by their consultant.

“This will reduce an unwanted waste of time by months,” Fearne said. “We want to bring the health service closer to the people, so patients will truly start receiving a better  service in the shortest time possible, by strengthening of the primary health care.”

Fearne also said that the Rabat health centre is offering blood testing to patients who regularly use Warfarin medication, and can have their results issued immediately rather than waiting for a number of days. “Through this test, the dosage of this particular medicine can be adjusted immediately. It is estimated that 1.3% of the Maltese population are in need of this medicine out of which around 4,000 undergo frequent anticoagulation testing,” Fearne said.