Malta has inaugurated its first digital Pet-CT Scanner at Mater Dei Hospital following a €5 million investment aimed at strengthening cancer diagnosis and ongoing patient assessment. Present for the launch were Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela and Minister for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. The new scanner, funded through EU programmes, replaces the previous analogue system and represents a major technological upgrade.
This is the first of two identical Pet-CT Scanners being installed at Mater Dei. The equipment is described as “state-of-the-art with a digital system based on semiconductors,” replacing older technology to offer significantly improved accuracy. Minister Abela explained that the new scanner is “four times more precise and sensitive than the previous one,” while also reducing examination time from 20 minutes to just 12. He noted that the system can also cater for obese patients and will allow the hospital to serve up to 20 individuals per day, calling it “a historic investment that will have a strong impact on oncology care in our country.”
Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi highlighted the crucial role of EU support, stating that the investment “shows clearly how European funds continue strengthening the capacity of our health sector,” enabling the replacement of outdated equipment and the introduction of innovative diagnostic technologies.
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