PN proposes independent commissioner for mental health

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Opposition spokesman for health Claudio Grech has announced that next week he will be presenting a Private Member’s Bill for the creation of an independent Commissioner for Mental Health.

 Speaking on the occasion of International Mental Health Day, Grech said “we feel that it is important that this position is made independent from government and given security of tenure.”

The recommendation had been made in the past by ex Chief Justice Vincent DeGaetano, however the PN felt that that the moment to present the bill is now. 

“The Commissioner or Mental health is not there simply to run a department but to safeguard the rights of patients in his care. It is hard to understand how the Commissioner for Mental Health can safeguard the interests his patients and report to government at the same time” said Grech.

Grech said that the measure is not a controversial one, only requiring a small change, expressing his hopes that a consensus will be reached when it is discussed in Parliament.

He highlighted the primary healthcare sector as in need of work, as “government has decreased the amount of capital in this area by 60%”. The only two current projects in this sector are the health centres at Rabat and Mosta, work that had started under the PN administration, said Grech.

Asked about the party’s stance on Government plans to deduct private health insurance premiums from taxable income, Grech said that the PN agreed in principle, but added that there must be ‘base-line coverage’ over many basic services. “It is important that patients do become victims of small print”, said Grech, adding that “there must be a wholesale reform in the health insurance sector.”

“Health insurance can’t be a trade-off with public healthcare. It must remain voluntary and public healthcare be safeguarded.”