Health Minister Chris Fearne said that last year, fewer major and minor amputations were recorded than in previous years.
There were 30% fewer major amputations as a result of a national plan to tackle diabetes, he said visiting the Diabetic Foot Ward at Mater Dei Hospital.
Interventions on the toes and foot are considered to be minor while amputations beneath or above the knee are considered major.
The minister spoke of the national diabetes plan introduced three years ago, and mentioned new medicine which has been introduced since then.
He mentioned that this particular ward was introduced in order to offer all related services, as in the past such diabetics were spread in different wards around the hospital. The ward itself has 15 beds and was opened back in December 2017. The ward offers specialised care.
Since it was opened 15 months ago, the ward received 750 patients, the minister said.
While the number of major amputations due to diabetes has been on the decline, he said, last year also saw a reduction in the number of minor amputations, highlighting that issues are being caught earlier and thus can be controlled.
The minister said that the government distributed 27,000 pieces of equipment by which patients could measure their glucose levels, while 30,000 diabetes patients receive diabetes sticks free of charge at a cost of €16 million. Another 3,000 patients receive new medicines against diabetes.
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