Less services, employees leading to ‘cheaper’ cataract operations at St James

“One cannot compare the costs of a hospital employing 3,779 personnel and providing a multitude of services to a hospital which, although providing a professional service, operates with a much lower number of employees and offers a lower number of services,” Health Minister Joe Cassar said.

During a visit at St James Hospital last week, Cassar said that cataract operations at the hospital were costing government less than the same operation carried out at Mater Dei.

The operations are being carried out through a public private partnership in a bid to shorten the cataracts waiting list – one of the longest lists at Mater Dei. The scheme has begun to bear fruit, as 360 such operations – between the State hospital and St James – were carried out in just two months.

Cassar also attributes income as a reason for the cheaper cost: “While services at Mater Dei are offered free of charge, a private hospital operates to generate revenue. The revenue generated allows the hospital owners to set up offers on their services, especially when it comes to offering a bulk package”.

He also noted that the “negotiators made sure that the client is offered a professional service while the same service is offered at a convenient price for government.”

Asked whether government is trying to reduce the cost of cataracts operations at the state hospital, the Health Ministry said government seeks to reduce costs across the board while keeping health services free of charge.

Without delving into which operations it was specifically referring to, the ministry also said that there are operations that are being considered for the public private partnership: “Discussions are at a very advanced stage. Other agreements will be announced in the coming weeks”.