Update 2 | Labour hits out at government's failures in health care

Adds Nationalist Party statement at 3:16pm
Adds health ministry's statement at 4:46pm

Labour will consider all proposals and will not exclude anything for the time being, MP Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said today during a press conference on the health sector. However, pressed to give concrete proposals to resolve the problems afflicting the sector the Labour MP said it was still early to do so.

During the press conference held at Labour's headquarters in Hamrun, the MP called on the government to resolve the endemic problems in the health sector, underlining the bed shortage at Mater Dei hospital and the lack of investment in primary health care.

A short clip was shown, depicting the health minister Joe Cassar claiming that the bed shortage at Mater Dei hospital was only a short-term problem linked to the increase of illnesses in the winter months.

However, the footage, taken last week, showed a number of patients in bed in corridors at Mater Dei hospital.

"This is evidence of the lack of planning and strategy by this administration in health. It is a very worrying situation and the government is in denial," the MP said.

Coleiro Preca explained that the lack of investment and the government's failure to carry out the much needed reforms in primary and mental health care and in elderly care is putting great stress on Mater Dei hospital resulting in a lack of beds and long waiting lists.

Asked what a new Labour government will do to resolve such problems, Coleiro Preca said: "Labour will strengthen the primary health care and we will have a short-, medium- and long-term programme to address the problems in the sector."

Pressed to mention a few proposals, the MP said: "I will not be concrete at this point in time."

Asked whether the party agrees with a proposal put forward by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses to construct a new hospital, the Qormi MP said:" Labour does not exclude anything. We will consider all proposals but we do have our own plans."

In August, the nurses' union had called for a post-election government to start planning to build a 500-bed hospital for acute care.

Pointing out that the party will announce its proposals at the opportune moment, Coleiro Preca explained that these proposals are not finalised but "are at an advanced stage. The forthcoming Congress will discuss these issues with the party's grassroots,so I cannot speak before this historic event. This will prove that it will not be a fake exercise."

Earlier on, she noted that many promises had been made over the years, on reforms in primary health care, general practitioners and reforms in mental health care, but such reforms never materialised. 

Coleiro Preca also lambasted the lack of planning in human resources, saying that up to 60 social workers and psychiatrists on one-year definite contracts have been offered a contract of service, on a self-emplyed basis, which has puxhed these workers to seek alternative employment.

In reaction, the Nationalist Party said Labour is "happy to criticise but it doesn't want to tell you what its policies are."

PN spokesperson Frank Psaila said Marie Louise Coleiro Preca's statements are typical of Labour's lack of substance and empty promises.

"Asked about what a Labour government would do, she said 'Labour would work according to short, medium and long term targets...' What is she actually saying?  Your guess is as good as mine," Psaila said.

The PN added that "Labour wants your vote, but it doesn't want to tell you what its policies are."

Meanwhile, the health ministry said the Opposition held the press conference to thwart the positive feedback received during the World Health Organisation conference being held in Malta.

"In an unfortunately predictable move, while renowned professionals are praising the work carried out by Maltese professionals and the governmnets policies, the Opposition persists with its usual overtly negative attitude," the ministry said.

It added that Labour "is once again criticising the work carried out by thousands of health professionals."

Labour was also criticised for "once again failing to come up with policy proposals in the health sector."

The health ministry added that plans are in place to increase beds in the community through the secretariat for the elderly.