Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Tonio Fenech announced on Saturday morning that with two months away from the completion of the new hospital, more than 90% of the Mater Dei building was handed over to the Government.
Tonio Fenech said that the main contractor, Skanska Malta JV passed on the responsibility to Medical Services Foundationin order to complete the last phase. This means that the zones are finished from construction and finishes, servicing and engineering systems.
The zones that passed on to the Medical Services Foundation were the main hospital chapel, the middle block which comprises of an auditorium with a 300-person capacity, 6 seminar rooms and the chaplain’s quarters. The staff restaurant, the staff quarters, the blood bank amongst others were also transferred.
Tonio Fenech also announced that the Radiology Department will also be completed next month. The mammography apparatus is being currently installed, the last before the process of migration. The training of staff is also under way.
With regards furnishings, three out of the four blocks of wards have been completed from installation, testing and commissioning.
Tonio Fenech added that the 1st July 2007 will mark the beginning of a new era for health services in Malta.
In turn, the children paintings to be placed in different sections around the Mater Dei were chosen. Over 1,200 paintings drawn by school children aged between 5 and 13 entered the competition. There were two categories; 5 – 8 years and 9 – 13 years. The chosen themes were the countryside, the sea, the flowers, the towns and cities.
