[WATCH] New cardiopulmonary testing equipment for heart patients launched

Mater Dei Hospital is now equipped with a new cardiopulmonary exercise testing machine, which will be helping heart patients who are undergoing cardiac rehabiliation.

The equipment, launched today by Health Minister Chris Fearne, is capable of not only monitoring the heart as conventional stress tests do, but also the lungs and other bodily functions.

Cardiology department chairman Robert Xuereb said that the new machine - a Quark CPET - could help doctors gather important medical information for patients with congenital heart defects, and is useful not only for those experiencing heart failure, but also as part of the patient-preparation process before operations, amongst other uses.

The machine, the first of its kind in Malta, is worth €100,000, and was half-funded by the NGO Beating Hearts, with the rest being covered by the health department.

Fearne welcomed the NGO's initiative to help purchase the equipment, and said the government was encouraging such organisations to enter into projects with it, with a view towards offering a better health service.

"Every year, at least 500 patients require cardiac rehabiliation," the minister said, "This machine will help gather the data we need for them to receive appropriate treatment."