Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514428
15 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JANUARY 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt MATER Dei Hospital is Malta's main healthcare facility, provid- ing the full range of medical ser- vices and accommodating 1,204 beds in all its departments. But the hospital is often found wanting in terms of bed availa- bility and certain medical pro- cedures are hounded by lengthy waiting lists. In a recent tender, the Health Ministry wants to outsource 3,500 surgeries, presumably to cut down the hospital waiting lists. "The government of Malta is committed to provide uninter- rupted healthcare services to the general public, particularly in maintaining highest efficiency in addressing waiting list for opera- tions," the ministry said in its call for tender. The contract will be for ser- vice providers that can provide fully functional theatre facili- ties, together with the services of surgeons, anaesthetists, thea- tre nurses and any other human resources and medical supplies for major surgeries, pre- and post-operative assessment, over- night stays, patient meals and in-patient services. Such services are estimated to cost around €2,700 for each ma- jor orthopaedic surgery, while overnight stays cost €150 per night. In May 2023, a parliamentary question revealed a waiting list of 8,454 surgical operations in 11 medical specialisations: cardiac, dental, ENT, gynae, neurology and ophthalmic, orthopaedic, general surgery, paediatric, plas- tic and urology. The longest list, at 3,582, is in orthopaedics followed by 2,949 in general surgery. The government regularly subcontracts outpatient services, cataract operations, or dentistry appointments. The outsourcing helps the Ma- ter Dei general hospital alleviate long waiting lists, especially due to the size of wards or clinics available. The government meets the costs of these operations, provid- ed for free to Maltese citizens, by footing the bill for private clinics. THE Jewish Foundation of Malta has presented plans for the ex- tension of the Jewish cemetery in Marsa on an adjacent disused plot of land. The proposed extension will be developed on a plot measuring 1,000sq.m at the corner between Triq Guze Gatt and Triq Emanue- le Luigi Galizia next to the Schem- bri batteries outlet. The application, which would necessarily involve the removal of existing trees to make way for graves, also foresees extensive landscaping with the introduc- tion of 32 Cypress trees, 40 Myrtle trees, 32 palm trees, and five olive trees. Additionally, four existing almond trees will be transplanted. The Marsa Jewish Cemetery, adjacent to the Turkish cemetery, was established in December 1879 after the Ta' Braxia cemetery in Pieta and an older one in Kalkara reached full capacity. It was designed by the English ar- chitect Webster Paulson. Paulson (1837-1887), born in Lincolnshire, is known for his work in Malta in the late 19th century, which in- cludes the Camenzuli Chapel in the Addolorata Cemetery and the Casino Notabile in Mdina. The two adjacent cemeteries, one designed by Paulson and the other by Emmanuele Carua- na Galizia, greatly contrast each other in style. While the Turkish Military Cemetery is a complex of highly decorated buildings and spires with an entrance facade positioned at a distance from the street, the Jewish Cemetery, built in a Neoclassical style, has a small- er built volume with less orna- mentation. The Jewish cemetery present- ly consists of a Neoclassical en- trance portal, a Taharah house, an entrance terrace, and a set of steps that lead downwards to the central pathway of the burial area. Most tombstones are decorated with Neoclassical features and Jewish symbols, such as the Star of David and the menorah. It is a listed Grade 1 building. However, while a Jewish ceme- tery was developed, the British co- lonial authorities refused requests from the Jewish community to have their own Synagogue, not to offend the Maltese Roman Catho- lic Church. Most of the Jewish community are descendants of 19th-century immigrants who came to Malta during the British rule. Under the order of Saint John, Jews living in Malta were slaves. A sizeable Jew- ish community lived in Malta in the Middle Ages, but these were expelled in 1492, along with other Jews living in territories controlled by the Spanish monarchs. In October, the Planning Au- thority had already approved the restoration of the cemetery's grand facade, built in the Neoclas- sical style, which is crumbling and in urgent need of repair. The Jew- ish community has been crowd- funding the restoration of Jewish cemeteries in Malta. Plans for the project have been drawn up by the Ministry for Public Works. The area earmarked for the ex- tension is designated for indus- trial development in the South Malta Local Plan. However, the cemetery extension was already deemed acceptable in a previous application approved in 2009, which was not carried out. Over the years, the Planning Au- thority has turned down industrial development next to the two cem- eteries, which enjoy the highest level of protection. €1 million to outsource over 3,500 surgeries from Mater Dei Marsa Jewish cemetery set to expand MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt