Gonzi promises to keep providing free health services

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Health minister Joe Cassar boasted about government's achievements in health and promised to keep investing in the health sector and keep it free of charge.

Gonzi and Cassar addressed supporters in the PN club in Mosta, which was a main battlefield in last week's local elections. They were joined by Joe Mercieca and Jean Depasquale, two former party employees, who spoke about their personal experiences at Mater Dei hospital.

Gonzi said health was a main priority for the government and underlined that his government is investing more than €1 million a day in health services.

The Prime Minister insisted that government is committed to "provide health services of the best quality and free of charge for the rich and for the poor." Gonzi said that Malta provides one of the best health services in the world even when compared to bigger and richer countries.

In recent weeks, the government has come under fire for announcing budgetary cuts across the health ministry's departments. Some €8.5 million in cuts will take place across all departments, namely from salaries, programmes and initiatives and entities under the health division.

However,Gonzi stressed that "patients come first" and appealed to young persons to lead a healthy lifestyle. He added "we promise all parents that we will provide the best health services possible."

The two testimonials present, recounted their own personal health issues and were full of praise for the doctors and nurses who helped them overcome their health problems and thanked the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health for ensuring that the treatment received was free of charge and of the best quality.

Talking on cancer, Gonzi said that a new Oncology Centre will soon be opened at Mater Dei and explained that government was helping fight the disease through the provision of free medicine, including Hercepting which cost thousands of euros per pill.

Gonzi added that in 2007 "only five pharmacies provided free medicines to who is entitled but after launching the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme, the number has now gone up to 159."

Health minister Joe Cassar also addressed the party faithful in the PN Mosta club, which was embroiled in a controversy in 2010 as it was alleged that the club was converted into a Soho-kind of club where young women would be seen dancing around poles until late at night.

Cassar said that the number of operations at Mater Dei have increased as have check-ups and visits at the Outpatients Department, which reached 524,000 last year. He also said that this month the Health ministry launched the "My Health" scheme which will allow patients to view their health records online and have their doctors access them. Although this is being announced as a new system, the project has been in the pipeline for years.

On 3 November 2007, Gonzi had said the system will take two or three years to be complete, however the system was launched in January 2012.