Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1042376
BUDGET 2019 maltatoday | TUESDAY • 23 OCTOBER 2018 6 HEALTH New mental health clinic A number of new health services are planned for 2019, the Budget document says, with the mental health sec- tor being earmarked for improvements. A new mental health clinic in the northern part of Malta is planned, as are a day treatment centre, as well as hostels in which persons with minor mental health problems can seek treatment while continuing to par- ticipate in the community. More funds for IVF THE government plans to provide more funds for IVF treatment, with the aim of putting into effect the ser- vices laid down in the new law and the new protocols approved earlier in 2018. The Budget touches on robotic surgery, which was mentioned in the past weeks by the Prime Minster, and which it says will allow patients, who previously had to be sent abroad for any such procedures, to ben- efit from state-of-the-art robotics which will enable surgeons to perform operations with great precision. As already announced, Mater Dei's medical and re- lated equipment will be upgraded throughout. The Budget document reiterates that the new Barts Medical School in Gozo will be ready and will start op- erating. Blood Bank's blood screening abilities to be improved THE National Blood Bank is going to be equipped with new machinery which can screen for diseases which have in recent years started spreading in European. A Blood, Tissue and Cells Centre is also going to be established, with building works expected to start this year. School clinic for autistic children A specialised clinic is being planned, to be located within the Marsa Primary School, which will be pro- viding Sensory Integration Therapy to children who experience difficulties – such as autism – which hin- der them from participating wholly in the education system. The Children and Young People Services will be relo- cated from St Luke's Hospital. New Outpatients unit and car park at Mater Dei NEXT year will see the start of the building of a new Outpatients services block at Mater Dei Hospital, the Budget document states, with the Inpatients depart- ment being expanded in place of where the current Outpatients department is located. In connection to this, work on a new 500-space car park will also start. Preparations are underway for a new acute care hos- pital close to Mater Dei Hospital, which will also in- clude a psychiatric Outpatients department. Committee to evaluate requests for rare conditions medicines A new committee is planned to be set up which will evaluate requests for medications for rare illnesses or conditions which are currently not being offered free of charge by the government. Such medicine often costs thousands of euro, the Budget document points out, highlighting that a "substantial amount" of money is going to be put forward for this purpose. The Budget confirms the government's commitment to investing more in cancer treatment, and in medi- cines for infectious diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV. Medicines related to prostate health will be added to the list of government-provided treatments.