THE HEALTH SERVICE

l THE Balearic health ministry is giving priority to cutting down waiting lists: at the end of last year, there were only 18 patients who had been waiting for more than six months for an operation, and this year, the government plans to reduce the average delay to 63 days. l A new state-of-the-art hospital will be built in Son Espases (Palma) early next year, and nearly 60 percent of patients will have a room to themselves. l There are currently two national health hospitals in Palma, Son Dureta and Son Llatzer, and one in Manacor, while another will be built in Inca in addition to the one planned at Son Espases. There is also an extensive network of health centres in outlying towns and villages, a network which is being constantly expanded.