Where the parties stand | Health

All three parties are committed to free health care: a system which has improved living standards and kept health inequalities at bay.

But questions are being asked on the sustainability of the system in view of Malta's ageing population.

This means that a greater number of Maltese will be exposed to more ailments as they grow older, and therefore the demand for treatment will keep rising, thus undermining any attempt to eliminate waiting lists.

Recently, former health minister Louis Deguara blasted promises made by both major parties to farm out services to the private sector (at government's expense), warning that this could open the floodgates of abuse and even bankrupt the entire national health system.

"At the moment both parties are competing with each other with healthcare proposals, without stopping to consider how these may impact the sustainability of the entire system."

Deguara singled out Labour's proposal to introduce 'timeframes' for operations... failing which, patients would be encouraged to turn to the private sector for the health needs, and send government the bill.